SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – HCU comes from behind to win, 7-6, in the top of the ninth inning to close conference opening weekend against UIW at Daniel Sullivan Field.
The Huskies (3-20) were led by freshman catcher
Dylan LaRue who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run. Senior shortstop
Austin Roccaforte went 3-for-4 with three singles while senior first baseman
Tyler LaRue went 2-for-4 with two singles. Freshman designated hitter
William Jewell went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and a home run.
Senior righthander
Chad Ricker (3-2) earned the win, pitching 2.1 innings of relief for HCU, giving up one earned run on two hits with a strikeout. Senior righthander
Javan Smitherman notched the save pitching a shutout inning of relief with a strikeout. Senior righthander
Will Ripoll started the game for the Huskies pitching 5.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts, before giving up five earned runs, on one hit, in the bottom of the sixth.
The Huskies got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when
Samuel Benjamin doubled to left center scoring
Trent Baker and
Damian Ruiz. HCU added another in the top of the fifth inning when
Diego Davila scored on an error by UIW's pitcher, Micah Berens, on a failed pickoff attempt.
William Jewell added two runs to the Husky lead, 3-0, with a home run to center field scoring
Reed Chumley to take a, 5-0, lead. The Huskies retook the lead in the top of the ninth inning when Dylan Larue homered to right field scoring
Tyler LaRue and making it a, 7-6, game.
UIW (12-12) were led by Rey Mendoza who went 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a grand slam. Jimmy DeLeon went 1-for-2 with a run, a walk, and a strikeout while Hernan Yanez went 0-for-2 with two runs and a walk.
Steve Hayward (3-2) took the loss, pitching one inning of relief for the Cardinals, giving up two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Micah Berens started the game for UIW pitching 6.1 innings giving up five runs, four earned runs, with eight hits, and a strikeout.
The Cardinals tied the game scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning starting with an RBI walk by Matt Crump scoring Wilson Ehrhardt before Rey Mendoza hit a grand slam to right center field scoring Hernan Yanez, Jimmy DeLeon, and Matt Crump. UIW took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when Mendoza singled to right field scoring Hernan Yanez.
The Huskies return home for a three-game home conference opening series against McNeese starting on Friday, March 31
st through Sunday, April 2
nd at Husky Field.
