HOUSTON – Caitlyn Brockway gave the Huskies the lead with a sixth inning blast against the Texas Southern Tigers and the Husky softball team sent fans home happy with an home opening victory Tuesday night at Husky Field.
 
HBU (2-2) got on the board in the first inning of this one after Shelby Echols and Ab Garcia both singled to start the bottom half of the first. After runners advanced on a passed ball, Autumn Sydlik hit a hard grounder to first the drive in the first run of the game for the Huskies and open the lead 1-0. The next two Huskies would strike out and strand Garcia on third to end the inning.
 
Sarah Venker started the game in the circle for HBU and was able to work her way past several base runners through the first two innings to hold the Husky lead. Texas Southern (0-6) was able to even things up in the top of the fourth. A double and a group out had a runner on third with just one out. Back-to-back singles tied the game at one and had runners on second and third with just one out. Venker locked in and struck out the final two hitters of the inning to preserve the tie, 1-1.
 
After a quick bottom of the fourth, Venker was back in the circle. A leadoff strikeout followed by a single and a walk brought Lyndie Swanson in from the bullpen for the Huskies. A hard hit ground ball to second base allowed the Huskies to make the force out at second, but an aggressive runner on second was able to come around third and score, just barely beating the throw from Echols, to give TSU a 2-1 lead.  Swanson struck out the last hitter and ended the inning.
 
Swanson came back out in the top of the sixth, getting two quick fly outs to right field before striking out Tevana Tate to end the inning, shifting momentum the Huskies way.
 
After a leadoff single from Garcia, Sydlik dropped a sac bunt down the first base line to advance the runner. Garcia scampered to third and the Huskies looked determined to even things up. Caitlyn Brockway had other ideas as she sent a laser over the center field fence to put the Huskies out in front, 3-2. Swanson came back out in the top of the seventh and shut things down for HBU, getting a fly out, strikeout, and groundout to lock in the win.
 
For the game, Garcia went 2-3, while Echols, Brockway, Savage and Riley Martin each added hits. Brockway and Sydlik had two and one RBI's respectively. Brockway's homerun marks her first and the Huskies first of the young season. Venker finished with 4.1 innings pitched, recording seven strikeouts, three walks, four hits, and two earned runs. Swanson earned her second win on the season, finishing the game throwing 2.2 innings, recording three strikeouts and giving up no hits.
 
The Huskies hit the road Friday to take part in the Southern Miss Invitational. They play double-headers Friday and Saturday morning. All games will be broadcast live and will be available through the softball schedule page on HBUHuskies.com.