HOUSTON – A four-run second inning put Illnois ahead and the HCU softball was unable to make up the deficit, pushing across a run in the seventh, in a 4-1 loss to the Illini on Saturday at the Cougar Softball Stadium.
In the bottom of the second, Illinois (7-5) got a leadoff walk followed by a pair of singles to load the bases with nobody out. Danielle Davis then singled to score a pair of runs, advancing on the throw, to give Illinois a 2-0 lead with two in scoring position. HCU (8-6) starter
Lyndie Swanson then induced a lineout back to the pitcher and a strikeout but Delaney Rummell came up with a two-out triple to right to bring home two more runs for a 4-0 ballgame.
The next four innings moved swiftly with neither team getting much going offensively. Down to their final three outs, the Huskies got a leadoff infield single from
Haylie Savage.
Jasie Roberts then hit into a fielder's choice before moving up to second after a walk to
Autumn Sydlik.
Kaicey Hagler then singled to center, scoring Roberts from second with Hagler and Sydlik advancing an extra base on a fielding error, leaving HCU with runners on second and third with just one out. The inning ended, however, after a strikeout and a popout.
Swanson suffered the loss in the circle for the Huskies, falling to 3-2 on the season. The junior threw six innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two.
At the plate, Savage and Hagler each had a single while
AB Garcia tripled to account for the team's three hits. Hagler now has 14 runs batted in on the season while Roberts' run scored gives her nine for the year.
The Huskies wrap up the Houston Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 26, against former conference rival Sam Houston at 3:00 p.m.
