MONROE, La. – On the final day at the University of Louisiana Monroe Best on the Bayou Classic, the HCU softball team split a pair of games versus the host Warhawks at the ULM Softball Complex.
Game 1
HCU (3-2) earned a 4-1 win in the first game of the day behind a complete game from junior pitcher
Katy Janes and timely extra-base hits off the bats of
Haylie Savage,
Kaicey Hagler and
Maggie Childs.
The second batter of the game, Savage struck quickly for the Huskies with a solo home run to center field for a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the Warhawks threatened with singles and a stolen base between the first two hitters. HCU got its first out with a 2-4-2 out on an attempted double steal. With a runner on third, Ashlan Ard singled to left center to bring home a run and even the score.
The next three innings went quickly and in the top of the fifth, Hagler drove a 1-0 pitch over the center field wall to put the Huskies back ahead, 2-1. HCU then loaded the bases with one out but a fielder's choice retired Childs at home followed by a fly out to end the threat. Janes stranded runners on second and third in the bottom half of the inning to maintain the lead.
The Huskies' lead stayed at just one until the top of the seventh with Childs doubling to lead things off.
Hadlee Tomczak followed with a single to put runners on the corners and then
AB Garcia brought Childs home with a groundout.
Avery Drake followed with a single to again put Huskies on the corners and with two outs, Savage singled through the right side to score Tomczak.
In the circle, Janes scattered seven hits across seven innings to record her second complete game win in as many days. She struck out two and walked three in the win while allowing one earned run.
Game 2
Game two went to the Warhawks, 6-2, with all six of the ULM runs coming in their final two at bats thanks to three HCU errors.
The game remained scoreless until the fourth when
Jasie Roberts reached on an error with two outs and then scored from first on a Hagler double to right center, giving HCU a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, an error allowed Korie Kreps to reach and advance to second. A sacrifice bunt moved her over to third and she then scored on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt with the hitter reaching first. A single then put runners on first and second.
Lyndie Swanson came on in relief for freshman starter
Addy Prasifka and the first batter faced by Swanson reached on a Breanna Herrera error, loading the bases. Kennedy Johnson then drove a triple to left center to bring three more runs home. Ard then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Johnson and making it a 5-1 game.
ULM tagged on another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth. Childs led off the seventh with a single, advanced to second on a one-out fielder's choice and then moved up to third on an infield single by Garcia. With two outs, Drake singled to center to score Childs and bring the game to its 6-2 final score.
Prasifka suffered the loss in the circle, falling to 0-1, allowing three unearned runs in 4.1 innings pitched. She allowed four hits, struck out two and walked one.
HCU finishes play at the Best on the Bayou Classic with a 3-2 record. Garcia closed out the tournament with a .571 batting average across five games. Hagler leads the team with six RBI while
Autumn Sydlik scored a team-high six runs. Through five games, the HCU pitching staff sports a 0.88 earned run average.
The Huskies are set for their home opener this Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 4:00 p.m. at Husky Field against crosstown foe Texas Southern.
