HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies kicked off Southland Conference play falling to Lamar on conference opening Saturday, 1-8 and 6-4.
After two shutout innings to start game one, Lamar posted a run in the top of the third inning and added three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Josh Prinner scored the Huskies first run of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning after hitting a single up the middle before advancing to third when
Trent Baker hit a single to right field. Prinner scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Trevor Roper to get the Huskies on the board. The Cardinals closed out game one, 1-8, after tallying four runs in the top of the eighth inning.
Lamar struck first in game two posting a run in each of the top of the first and second inning. The Cardinals increased their lead to four runs after scoring two runs in the top of the fourth before the Huskies answered with two home runs in the bottom of the fourth off the bats of
Tyler LaRue and
Parker Edwards to minimize the deficit to two runs at 4-2. Lamar extended the lead back to three runs in the top of the seventh inning before HCU narrowed the gap to just one run, tallying two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Huskies loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning with no outs when
Parker Edwards recorded a five pitch walk to drive in Roper before
Katcher Halligan hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score
Tyler LaRue. The Cardinals added another run in the top of the ninth inning to take game two, 6-4.
The Huskies (7-15, 0-2 SLC) were led by
Samuel Benjamin recording a hit in each game going 2-for-8 on the day with a double and a walk. Prinner went 1-for-3 in game one with a run while
Trevor Roper went 2-for-4 in game two with a walk and a run.
Nicholas Willard (2-2) was tagged with the loss in game one, pitching 3.2 innings to start the game allowing four runs, one earned run, on two hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
James Kirkpatrick pitched 1.2 shutout innings of relief with a strikeout.
Parker Edwards (1-4) was dealt the loss in game two pitching 3.2 innings to start the game, allowing four earned runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Jonathan Valdez pitched 3.1 innings of relief in game two allowing one run, no earned runs, on three hits with two strikeouts. The Huskies used four pitchers in game one and three pitchers in game two.
Lamar (18-4, 2-0 SLC) was led by Drake Varnado going 5-for-6 on the day with three RBIs, a double, a walk and a run. Kanin Dodge went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, a double, a walk, a run and a stolen base in game one before River Orsak went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in game two. Brooks Caple (3-2) earned the win in game one pitching seven innings to start the game allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts. In game two, Jacob Ellis (4-0) earned the win pitching 5.2 innings to start the game allowing two earned runs on three hits with a trio of walks and strikeouts to remain undefeated on the season. Andres Perez notched his fourth save of the season pitching two shutout innings of relief with three walks and two strikeouts. The Cardinals used two pitchers in game one and four pitchers in game two.
The three-game series against Lamar will conclude on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Husky Field. Live broadcast will be available on ESPN+ and live stats are available at HCUHuskies.com.
