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Houston Christian University Athletics

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Graham Laxton
Juan DeLeon Creative
0
A&M-Corpus Christi AMCC 17-29, 9-18 SLC
2
Winner Houston Christian HCU 26-20, 17-10 SLC
A&M-Corpus Christi AMCC
17-29, 9-18 SLC
0
Final
2
Houston Christian HCU
26-20, 17-10 SLC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
A&M-Corpus Christi AMCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Houston Christian HCU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 X 2 9 1

W: Smith, Ben (4-5) L: Shea, Bryson (1-5) S: Cyr, Jacob (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

BSB:HCU Secures Series Win with 2–0 Shutout Over Islanders

Huskies silence Islanders to close out home slate with win

HOUSTON – Houston Christian University baseball wrapped up its final home series of the regular season with a 2–0 shutout over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday afternoon at Husky Field.

From the first pitch, the game had the makings of a pitcher's duel. Ben Smith, who would go on to earn the win, set the tone early, using his command on the mound to keep the Islanders off balance. Over six full innings, Smith scattered five hits, struck out five batters, and issued just three walks—shutting down any chance of momentum for Corpus Christi.

On the opposing side, A&M-Corpus Christi's Bryson Shea was equally composed early, matching zeroes with Smith through the first four innings. But in the bottom of the fifth, the game cracked open when Graham Laxton stepped up to the plate. With one out and a 1-2 count, Laxton launched a solo home run over the left-field fence, igniting the Huskies' dugout and giving his team the edge they had been waiting for. It was a no-doubt shot—his first of the season—and pushed Houston Christian ahead 1–0.

The Islanders threatened several times, putting runners on base in five separate innings, but Smith and the Huskies' defense worked efficiently to erase each threat. A crucial double play in the fifth helped douse what could've been a rally after Corpus Christi drew back-to-back walks.

After Smith's six-inning outing, HCU turned to its bullpen. Ben Norton took over in the seventh and delivered 2.2 strong innings, navigating a few tough at-bats. He allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out three. When Norton hit his pitch count with two outs in the ninth and a runner aboard, closer Jacob Cyr was called upon. One pitch later, the final out was recorded, and Cyr earned his first save of the season.

The Huskies added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Jack Walker drew a walk and later scored on a sharply-hit RBI double to center field by Parker Edwards, extending the lead to 2–0.

Offensively, the Huskies collected nine hits. Edwards led the way with two, including the critical eighth-inning double. Laxton's home run and Trevor Roper's two singles helped pace the lineup.

With Sunday's win, the Huskies secured the weekend series, taking two out of three from the Islanders. HCU won the opener 4–3 before dropping Saturday's nightcap, 5–1.

Up next, HCU will have a three-game road series at Lamar, May 8–10, ahead of the Southland Conference Tournament.
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