HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies host UIW at Husky Field for a three-game series to close out the conference season. HCU sits one game out of eighth place (SLU) in the Southland to make the 2024 SLC Tournament next week in Hammond, Louisiana. With four teams within two games of each other heading into the final weekend of conference play, the Huskies can guarantee a spot in the Southland tournament with a series sweep as UIW sits two games ahead of the Huskies. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is tied with the Cardinals also two games ahead of HCU and the Islanders will battle SLU, one game ahead of the Huskies, on conference closing weekend.

The Huskies are 15-10 all-time against UIW and 4-2 over the past two weekends. HCU swept the Cardinals at Husky Field in the conference series in 2022 before falling 2-1 in San Antonio last season claiming the series finale. The Huskies started the conference rivalry 10-2 from 2015-2018 capped off with a seven-game winning streak and HCU is 8-1 against UIW at Husky Field.

The Huskies (16-30, 7-14 SLC) are led by conference leader with 10 home runs in SLC play, Samuel Benjamin. The senior is riding an eight-game hitting steak that includes four multi-hit games scoring eight runs, driving in six RBIs, hitting three homers and two doubles. Benjamin is hitting .321 avg. with a 1.135 OPS (3^rd in conference), 25 RBIs (tied for 5^th in SLC), and a .716 SLG% (2^nd in Southland). Trevor Roper has the longest hitting streak on the team this season tallying nine-straight games with a hit including four multi-hit games. The junior is 2^nd in the conference during Southland play leading the Huskies with 64 defensive assists. After leading the team through pre-conference play, William Jewell has rekindled his early season form riding a five-game hitting streak including three multi-hit games. The senior went 5-for-12 (.417 avg.) against McNeese last weekend scoring four runs with three RBIs and a double.

UIW (24-27, 9-12 SLC) is on a seven-game losing streak after losing the final two games at home against Nicholls two weeks ago before getting swept by SLU last weekend and losing both midweeks against ACU and UTSA. The Cardinals are led by Dalton Beck hitting .389 average on the season with a team-high 16 home runs, 82 hits, and 20 doubles while starting all 51 games. Cameron Caley has also started every game this year batting .337 average with a team-high 58 runs scored and 52 walks on the season. Five Cardinals are hitting over .300 avg. this season including Grant Randall batting .306 average and riding a three-game multi-hit streak after going 7-for-13 (.538 avg.) with five RBIs, two doubles, and a home run in that stretch.

Three-Game Series Schedule:
Thursday, May 16^th – 1 p.m. – ESPN+
Friday, May 17^th – 1 p.m. – ESPN+
Saturday, May 18^th – 2 p.m.

Live stats are available at HCUHuskies.com!