PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The HCU baseball team stormed back in the late innings to claim a thrilling 15-13 win over Prairie View A&M on Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies put together a relentless offensive push, scoring 13 runs over the final three frames to complete the comeback and secure the non-conference victory at Tankersley Field.
Trevor Roper led the charge for the Huskies (18-9), going 2-for-4 with a grand slam and four RBIs, while Luke Bard delivered a perfect 3-for-3 performance, also driving in four runs. Katcher Halligan contributed with two hits and a team-high three runs scored while also adding two RBIs. Jeremy Rader's clutch two-run triple in the ninth sealed the win, highlighting HCU's resilience. Patience at the plate also played a crucial role in the HCU come-from-behind victory as the Huskies drew 15 walks.
The Huskies struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kenneth Dutka led off with a walk and advanced on a wild pitch. After two more walks loaded the bases, Halligan drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run, followed by an RBI single from Bard. Prairie View (8-22) quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 2-2 thanks to a hit batter, a triple and a sacrifice fly.
The Panthers extended their advantage in the fourth, going ahead on a two-out RBI single up the middle. PVAMU then added ot its lead in the fifth inning, scoring three more runs behind a two-run double from Marshal Jonas and an RBI single by Ahmar Donatto, pushing the lead to 6-2.
HCU's bats awakened in the seventh. Walker Bazile drew a pinch-hit, leadoff walk and then scored two batters later on a Halligan RBI double to right center. Bard and Rader then drew walks to load the bases with one out. Graham Laxton was hit by a pitch to push across another run, leaving the bases juiced for Roper. The senior drove one over the wall to left to plate four and flip the score back in HCU's favor for the first time since the opening frame, 8-6.
The back-and-forth battle continued as Prairie View responded with five runs in the bottom of the seventh to reclaim an 11-8 advantage. However, HCU's offense wasn't finished. Bazile again led off the inning with a walk, moving up to third on a one-out double off the bat of Halligan to put two runners in scoring position. Bard followed that up with a single up the middle to score both runners pull the Huskies within one. After a passed ball allowed Bard to move up to second he was able to score on a throwing error by the PVAMU pitcher and even the score heading into the bottom of the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Panthers once again took a lead thanks to a one-out, two-run triple by Donatto. The ninth inning opened with a flyout, leaving the Huskies trailing by two and down to their final two outs of the game.
Tevis Payne was hit by a pitch before
Harrison Helton drew a walk, putting runners on first and second.
Parker Edwards then drove a double to right center to score one and give HCU runners at second and third. Halligan was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Bard brought home the tying run in the next at bat with a sacrifice fly to left.
Jeremy Rader then came up with the biggest hit of the day, tripling down the left field line to score both baserunners and put HCU ahead, 15-13.
Ben Smith, HCU's Sunday starter all season, then came on in relief to nail down the win and earn his first save.
Tyler McCloskey earned the win for the Huskies, moving to 2-0 on the year.
Up next, the conference-leading Huskies return to Southland Conference play with a three-game road series this weekend at Nicholls in Thibodaux, Louisiana. First pitch for the series opener is set for Friday, April 4, at 6 p.m., followed by games on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
