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HCU Huskies (12-16, 2-1 SLC) vs UIW Cardinals (9-13-1, 1-5 SLC)

• Husky Field (Houston, Texas)
• Friday (4 pm and 6 pm - DH) 
• Saturday (12 pm)
• ESPN+ 
• LIVE STATS

Houston Christian University returns home to Husky Field for just the second time this season, hosting University of the Incarnate Word in a three-game Southland series on Friday and Saturday.

The Huskies opened conference play last weekend by taking two out of three at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, highlighted by a series opening no-hitter by junior Katy Janes. This weekend's series marks the first time on home turf since an 8-0 victory over cross-town foe Texas Southern University on February 15.

HCU has won three of its last four games after beating Sam Houston State 7-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday night in Huntsville. The Huskies exploded for a five-spot in the 10th frame to break the game wide open, the big blow coming on a two-run single by Maggie Childs.

AB Garcia posted her third straight two-hit outing, and Tabitha Burnett came off the bench for 2-3 night to lead a 13-hit offense for HCU. 

Lyndie Swanson picked up the win in relief of Janes, going 2.2 innings to even her mark at 5-5 and lower her ERA to 3.88 on the year.

Janes, the reigning Southland Pitcher of the Week, is also 5-5 on the season with a team-low 2.31 ERA. Opponents are batting just .226 off of her, and she has 41 strikeouts in 68 innings. 

Garcia continues to lead the HCU offense overall, hitting .420 with a .929 OPS. She has team-highs in both hits (37) and runs (23), and has 14 steals in 16 attempts.

Right behind her is Haylie Savage, who on Tuesday night became the first Husky to hit the 20-RBI plateau this season and bats .341 heading into the weekend. 

Avery Drake has upped her average to .287. She swiped two more bags on Tuesday night, pushing her career total to 33 and tying her with Shana Martin (1999-2000) for fifth place all-time. Jennifer Futral (1998-2001) is the all-time HCU leader with 88. 

This weekend's set with the Cardinals continues a rivalry that dates all the way back to the first year of HCU softball in 1989. The two teams have hooked up 78 total times, with the Huskies holding a 52-26 all-time lead in the series. 

The Huskies took two of three from Incarnate Word last season in San Antonio to up their lead in all-time SLC meetings to 12-6. Lyndie Swanson was victorious twice on that weekend. 

UIW is led by Kendall McGary, a senior outfielder from Katy Tompkins, who bats .321 with two homers and 11 RBI. Baylee Lemons, a sophomore third baseman from Magnolia is batting .299 while freshman outfielder Victoria Altamirano from Los Fresnos leads the Cards with three homers.

Six have taken the circle for UIW this season, with senior southpaw Annie Gunther from Sachse sitting at 4-2 with a 3.23 ERA to lead the way. Aaliyah Garcia, a senior right-hander from Angleton, has made 11 appearances with eight starts, and sports a 3-4 record and 3.35 ERA to go with 39 K's in 46 innings. 

The Southland series is scheduled for a Friday doubleheader at 4 pm and 6 pm, followed by the series finale at noon on Saturday. 

Saturday will be Special Olympics Day at Husky Field.  After the game, participants will meet on the field for a "run the bases" and time with the team and staff. For more information, please email HCU Assistant Coach Natali Duron (nduron@hbu.edu).