BEAUMONT, Texas – Houston Christian University split a double-header with University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday at Vincent Beck Stadium on the campus of Lamar University. HCU secured  the series win by winning the twin-bill opener 5-3 behind a three-run eighth-inning rally. The Huskies then succumbed in the second game 14-4 to close out the campaign.

After allowing two runs in the top of the first inning in game one, the Huskies answered starting with a double down the left field line by Trevor Roper. With a double to left center off the bat by Samuel Benjamin three pitches later, Roper scored to put HCU on the board. A Tyler LaRue double to left center in the next at bat tied the game when Benjamin crossed home to even the score at 2-2. A solo-shot by the Cardinals in the top of the second inning regained UIW's lead. After five-straight scoreless innings by both teams, the Huskies entered the bottom of the eighth inning trailing by a one run deficit. A lead-off home run by Benjamin tied the game at 3-3. In the next at bat, LaRue doubled to right center before scoring on a Jewell double down the right field line on his first pitch to give HCU the lead at 4-3. After Jewell advanced to third base on a groundout by Katcher Halligan, the senior scored on a single through the left side by Luke Bard to close out game two, 5-3.

In game two, the Cardinals got off to another fast start posting a run in the top of the first inning and four runs in the top of the second inning to grab an early 5-0 lead. The Huskies got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning starting when LaRue drew a one-out walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch and scoring on a Halligan sacrifice fly to right field. After UIW increased their lead to 7-1 scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning, HCU responded with a lead-off solo-homer by Tyler LaRue in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Halligan walked and advanced to third on a Ty Hodge double to left center, Halligan scored on a sacrifice fly by Parker Edwards to minimize the margin to four runs at 3-7. The Huskies narrowed the deficit to three runs, 4-7, when Baker scored on an RBI groundout by Roper after hitting a triple down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. The Cardinals closed out the series posting seven runs in the top of the eighth frame to take a 4-14 lead and run-rule the Huskies through eight innings.

The Huskies (18-31, 9-15 SLC) were led by LaRue going 3-for-6 on the day with a home run, two doubles, three runs and a pair of RBIs and walks. Benjamin led the Huskies in game one going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs. Bard recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season and first game with a trio of hits in game one going 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI. Roper and Jewell each tallied a hit in each game going 2-for-8 on the day with a double, a run and an RBI while Jewell added a walk. Mark Lopez (3-0) earned the win in game one pitching four shutout innings of relief with three strikeouts. Rye Gunter started the game for the Huskies pitching .1 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits with a pair of walks. Baylor Baumann tossed 4.2 innings of relief giving up one earned run on three hits with a trio of walks while fanning five batters. In game two, Jackson Hamilton (1-3) was tagged with the loss pitching 1.1 frames to start the game, allowing three earned runs on three hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts. Nicholas Williard pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief on one hit with a strikeout before Zach Ryan also tossed a scoreless frame with a walk. Christian Diaz pitched the final .2 scoreless innings of the game allowing a hit with a strikeout.

The Cardinals (25-29, 10-14 SLC) were led by Daniel Calabrese going 4-for-7 with a double, three RBIs, two runs and a walk. Ryder Hernandez went 3-for-8 on the day with a double, an RBI, and a run. Dalton Beck and Grant Randall tallied a hit in each game going 1-for-5 while Beck hit a home run, drove in five RBIs, and scored three runs and Randall scored three runs. Isaiah Zavala (4-5) was tagged with the loss in game one pitching seven innings to start the game, allowing five earned runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Dave Johnson pitched the final frame of game one giving up one hit with a walk. In game two, Micah Berens (2-3) earned the win in game two tossing 5.1 innings to start the game, allowing three earned runs on five hits with a trio of walks and a pair of strikeouts. Adam Byrd pitched the final innings of the day fanning two batters.

11 Husky players played their final game of their Husky career in farewell. Samuel Benjamin, Tyler LaRue, Jarek Wells, James Kirkpatrick, Dave Wilson, Cash McNicholas, Rye Gunter, Josh Prinner, William Jewell, Zach Ryan, Christian Diaz, and Nicholas Willard were honored on senior day for their time and devotion to the Husky program.