HOUSTON – The HCU baseball team opened the 2025 season by splitting a doubleheader against Central Michigan on Friday at Husky Field, dropping the first game, 6-0, before bouncing back with a 5-0 shutout victory in the nightcap.
 
During the first game the Huskies (1-1) struggled to generate offense, recording just three hits while the Chippewas (1-1) capitalized on key scoring opportunities to secure the win. The Huskies got runners on first and second in the second and then loaded the bases in the third but both innings ended on double plays.
 
Central Michigan broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, plating three runs before adding another three in the fifth to put the game out of reach. CMU's pitching staff held the Huskies hitless over the final three innings to close out the win.
 
The Huskies bounced back in the second game with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Katcher Halligan and a two-run single up the middle by Robert Oropeza. A passed ball then allowed Walker Bazile to score the fourth run of the inning. All four HCU runs in the inning came with two outs.
 
HCU added an insurance run in the second when Jack Walker doubled down the left-field line to bring home Kenneth Dutka, extending the lead to 5-0.
 
The Huskies' pitching staff took care of the rest, limiting Central Michigan to just four hits in the shutout victory. Starter Joshua Caravalho pitched five innings of the seven inning game, scattering four hits while striking out four and walking two. Jacob Cyr and Ben Norton each threw scoreless innings in relief.
 
The Huskies continue their series against Central Michigan on Saturday at Husky Field.