HOUSTON – Sophomore Sarah Venker delivers the shutout and bats hammer the 3-0 sweep for HBU Softball in their final Southland Conference series to be played at Husky Field for the 2021 season. The Huskies have just two series remaining in regular season play.

HBU (19-12, 12-9 SLC) came out strong with three straight outs to send in the Husky batting lineup. With Echols reaching first on a Cardinal (5-40, 1-20 SLC) error putting Jaquez on second, Brockway nails in the run with a double for her first at-bat to put the Huskies on the board.

Venker delivers a pair of three up three down innings innings for Echols to begin the bottom of the third. Finding the connection, Echols knocks her second homer of the season to right field to put the Huskies up 2-0.

With a couple of HBU base hits, and a Hagler sacrifice bunt, Jaquez drops a base hit in between first and right field giving Bullen plenty of time to earn the third run in the fourth.

Bats dominate in the sixth inning. Jaquez on second with Hagler in scoring position, Echols taps a bunt for plenty of time for the base hit as Hagler touches home. Sophomore Autumn Sydlik reached on the fielder's choice as Echols beat the throw to second, loading the bases for the Huskies. Roberts drops a base hit through the left side for the RBI to keep the bases loaded. Venker makes the base hit with a quick run to first for the RBI, but advances after an overthrow from the Cardinal shortstop to seal the win as Sydlik scores on the throw.

Redshirt freshman shortstop Shelby Echols went 2-for-3 scoring twice with a home run and two RBIs. Senior catcher Heidi Jaquez also went 2-for-3 scoring twice with an RBI. Senior outfielder Riley Bullen went 2-for-4 scoring once while Sarah Venker went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Redshirt freshman outfielder Jasie Roberts went 1-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore first baseman Caitlyn Brockway went 1-for-4 with an RBI double.

Venker (3-1) threw her first HBU career complete game shutout allowing only two hits and a pair of walks while striking out two.

Audrey Fleming and Reagan Jones each went 1-for-3 for the pair of Lamar hits. Shelby Mixon (2-14) took the loss in the circle giving up three runs on six hits with a pair of walks and a strike in 3.1 innings. Aaliyah Ruiz threw the final 2.2 innings giving up four runs on four hits with a walk while striking out one.

The Huskies will head to Texas State for a mid-week non-conference game at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20 followed by a three game Southland Conference series at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi with an early afternoon doubleheader on Friday followed by a noon finale on Saturday.