HOUSTON, Tx – HCU falls to Houston, 13-7, in non-conference midweek matchup at Schroeder Park.

The Huskies (8-24, 5-4 SLC) were led by junior designated hitter Samuel Benjamin who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Senior shortstop Austin Roccaforte went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs while senior first baseman Tyler LaRue went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a run, an RBI, and a walk. Freshman catcher Dylan LaRue keeps his 10-game hitting streak alive going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Freshman righthander Daniel Farrow (0-2) took the loss, pitching .2 innings of relief allowing four earned runs on three walks. Freshman righthander Jonathan Valdez started the game for the Huskies pitching two innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Junior righthander Mitchell Cashion pitched a shutout inning of relief allowing one hit.

The Cougars (21-16, 6-3 AAC) were led by Zach Arnold who went 2-for-2 with four runs, two RBIs, two walks, and two stolen bases. Drew Bianco went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs, and a walk while Brandon Uhse went 1-for-2 with a grand slam, four RBIs, and two walks.

Braelyn Cunningham (1-0) earned the win for Houston, pitching three innings of relief allowing one earned run on two hits. Ryan Dollar started the game allowing three earned runs on three hits with a walk before recording an out. Braden Forsyth pitched two shutout innings allowing one hit with a strikeout.

The Huskies got on the board early in the top of the first inning when Samuel Benjamin singled up the middle scoring Trent Baker before Austin Roccaforte scored on a wild pitch. Dylan LaRue singled to right field driving in Benjamin to round out the top of the first inning. HCU added another run in the top of the third inning when Tyler LaRue hit a home run to left field. The Huskies scored a run in the top of the seventh inning when Logan Letney scored on a wild pitch. HCU added their last two runs of the game in the top of the eighth inning starting with a single up the middle by Benjamin scoring Roccaforte before Benjamin scored on a groundout off the bat of Reed Chumley.

The Cougars scored two early runs in the bottom of the first inning starting with a Zach Arnold single up the middle scoring Malachi Lott before Arnold scored on a double down the left field line off the bat of Anthony Tulimero. Houston tied the game in the bottom of the second inning, 3-3, when Ian McMillan homered to left field. The Cougars posted five runs in the bottom of the third inning starting with McMillan scoring when Arnold got hit-by-pitch before Brandon Uhse hit a grand slam to left center scoring Bianco, Lott, and Arnold. Houston tacked on to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bianco homered to left center before Arnold scored on a passed ball. The Cougars added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning starting with Arnold scoring on a fielding error by HCU's Damian Ruiz before Tulimero scored on a single to left field off the bat of Murray. Houston's final run came in the bottom of the eighth inning when Bianco singled down the left field line scoring Burckel.

The Huskies will return to action for a three-game conference series against Nicholls in Thibodaux, La on Friday, April 21^st through Sunday, April 23^rd on Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.