BEAUMONT, Texas – Five HBU pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout, the Huskies' first of the season, in a 1-0 victory over Lamar in non-conference baseball Wednesday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
 
Junior righthander Will Ripoll went the first four innings for the Huskies (14-24), allowing four hits, while striking out one and walking one. Chad Ricker (2-4) earned the win, hurling the next three in relief, giving up just one hit. Tim Ewald retired two in the eighth, before Javan Smitherman recorded the final out in the frame. Senior Andrew Reitmeyer nailed down his eighth save with a 1-2-3 ninth. His eight saves are tied for second at HBU for a single season, while his 13 career saves take over sole possession of fourth all-time.
 
Junior centerfielder Austin Roccaforte went 1-for-4 with a triple and scored the lone run of the game. Junior catcher Kevin Ortiz was 1-for-3 with the RBI.
 
Daniel Cole (2-1) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Landon Odom gave up three hits, struck out one and walked one in three innings.
 
Kirkland Banks went 3-for-4, doubling in his first three at-bats, but flying out to center to end the game. Kelby Weyler had the other hits for the Cardinals, going 2-for-4.
 
HBU had a prime scoring opportunity in the second as junior rightfielder Logan Letney and junior third baseman Reed Chumley led off with back-to-back singles, then advanced on senior leftfielder Jake Miller's sacrifice bunt. Junior shortstop Diego Davila popped up and senior second baseman Braden Sanford grounded out to end the threat.
 
Lamar also had runners at second and third with one out in the third, but Kevin Bermudez flied out to shallow right and Chase Kemp struck out.
 
The game was scoreless through seven innings, then Roccaforte tripled with one out in the eighth, then Ortiz followed with an RBI single. The Huskies left the bases in the frame.
 
HBU swept the season home-and-home series from its former and future conference rivals, as Lamar will return to the Southland for the 2023-24 academic year.
 
The Huskies wrap up their eight-game road swing with a three-game league matchup against Northwestern State Friday through Sunday in Natchitoches, Louisiana.