HOUSTON – The HBU softball team used a walk off blast from
Jasie Roberts to win a slugfest against the Lamar Cardinals in the University of Houston Tournament Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field. The second game of the afternoon against UH was canceled due to weather in the Houston area.
The Huskies (4-5) got on the board first in this one, putting up a four spot in the bottom of the second inning. After a Roberts ground out,
Haylie Savage singled down the right field line before walk from
Riley Martin and
Breana Herrera loaded the bases with one out. After a foul out,
Shelby Echols roped a double to center field, clearing the bases and giving the Huskies a 3-0 lead. After a Cardinal pitching change,
Autumn Sydlik came to the dish and singled to left field, driving in one run which would end the scoring for the Huskies and give them a 4-0 advantage heading into the third.
Lamar had an answer though, scoring six runs of their own on two three run home runs in the top of the third.
In the bottom half of the third, Savage singled to get things started for the huskies before being advanced on a sac bunt from Martin. Herrera came to the dish and singled in a run to cut the Cardinal lead to just one. A fielder's choice, walk, and a single would have the Huskies threatening for more, but a fly out ended the frame with the Cardinals leading 6-5. Lamar scored two more runs in the top of the fourth extending their lead 8-5.
After a clean inning on defense in the fifth, the Huskies cut into the lead with a single from Echols and double from
Sarah Venker to open the fifth inning with two runners in scoring position. Echols drove in a run on a ground out to the second baseman and the Huskies would strand Venker on third to end the inning trailing 8-6.
After a quick sixth inning and top of the seventh, the Huskies found themselves down two heading into the bottom of the last frame. The Huskies quickly erased the Cardinal lead as they opened the inning with a walk and an Echols two run jack. HBU wouldn't stop there.
Avery Drake reached on an error before Sydlik dropped down a SAC bunt to get the runner in scoring position. Drake stole third on the next pitch before
Caitlyn Brockway was walked. Brockway elected to steal second base with one out, putting two in scoring position for the Huskies. Roberts came to the dish and hit a three bomb down the left field line to walk it off for the Huskies.
Echols led the way on offense, going 4-5 at the dish with a pair of doubles, a two-run homer, and six RBI's. Brockway, Savage, and Herrera each had two hits. Roberts lone hit of the afternoon was the biggest of the game, driving in three for the Huskies.
Madison Cotton started the game in the circle for the Huskies, giving up four runs across 2.2 innings.
Katy Janes came in relief of Cotton and earned her second win of the young season, giving up four runs in 4.1 innings while striking out six.
The Huskies return to action tomorrow in the Houston Tournament as they take on Lamar again at 2:00 p.m. before battling with Houston live on ESPN+ at 7:00 p.m.
