HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies suffered a 0-3 sweep on conference opening weekend to Lamar at Husky Field. In the offensive series finale that included a trio of home runs by each team, the Cardinals prevailed taking game three, 11-9.
Lamar struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead before the Huskies answered when
Tyler LaRue doubled to center field scoring
Trevor Roper and
Samuel Benjamin to get within one run at 3-2. The Cardinals added another three runs in the top of the second inning to increase the lead to four runs before
Ty Hodge scored on a groundout off the bat of
William Jewell to narrow the lead back to three runs at 6-3. After a solo home run by Lamar in the top of the third inning, the Cardinals held a 7-3 lead. After a pair of shutout innings by both teams, Lamar grabbed their largest lead of the game adding another run in the top of the sixth inning. Trailing 8-3, the Huskies found their rhythm starting with a homerun by Hodge on the second pitch of the bottom of the sixth inning. HCU added three more runs when
Tyler LaRue homered to center field, scoring Benjamin and Roper to get the Huskies within one run at 8-7. A bloop by
Dylan LaRue followed by a blast off the bat of
Parker Edwards gave the Huskies their first lead of the series at 9-8. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead posting three runs in the top of the seventh inning and went on to claim game three, 11-9, and sweep the series, 3-0.
The Huskies (7-16, 0-3 SLC) were led by
Tyler LaRue going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, five RBIs and a run. Hodge went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs while
Dylan LaRue went 3-for-4 with a run. Five Huskies tallied multi-hit games including Roper going 2-for-5 with a double and two runs while
Graham Laxton went 2-for-3 with a walk.
Jackson Hamilton (0-1) was tagged with the loss pitching 1.2 innings of relief allowing four runs, one earned run, on three hits.
Jarek Wells started the game for HCU giving up three earned runs on two hits with a walk before recording an out.
Zach Ryan pitched 2.1 shutout innings of relief with a walk and two strikeouts.
Lamar (19-4, 3-0 SLC) was led by Zach Skinner going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, a run and a walk. Drake Varnado went 2-for-4 with a double and a run while Brayden Evans went 2-for-5 with a walk and a run. Kyle Moseley (2-0) earned the win pitching 2.1 shutout innings of relief with two strikeouts. Austin Neal notched his third save of the season pitching a shutout inning of relief allowing a hit with one strikeout. Hunter Hesseltine started the game for the Cardinals pitching 3.1 innings while giving up three earned runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
The Huskies return to action on Tuesday taking on #7 ranked Texas A&M in a midweek matchup at Blue Bell Park in College Station, Texas at 6 p.m. The Aggies (21-3) are coming off a 2-1 series win against #21 Mississippi State. The Aggies' only other two losses on the season came against #8 Florida the prior weekend. Texas A&M is led by Braden Montgomery hitting .375 average with 39 RBIs, 29 runs, 22 walks and 12 home runs. Gavin Grahovac is batting .326 average with 32 runs, 31 RBIs, 15 walks and eight home runs while Jace LaViolette is hitting .314 average with a team high 34 runs and tied for the team high in home runs with 12 total. Four of the Aggies six starting pitchers have a perfect record with Ryan Prager (5-0) leading the way pitching 32.1 innings on the season allowing six earned runs with 49 strikeouts to just four walks.
Live broadcast for the midweek matchup against the Aggies is available at ESPN+ or SEC Network. Radio broadcast is available at 1150 AM/93.7 FM, TAMU Sports Network and live stats are available at HCUHuskies.com.
