HOUSTON – HCU baseball opens Southland Conference play this weekend, hosting a three-game series against the UIW Cardinals at Husky Field from Friday through Sunday.
The Huskies (4-5) are riding a four-game winning streak heading into conference play, most recently earning an 11-8, extra-inning win at Rice while pounding out a season-high 14 base hits. HCU also set a new season-high with five extra-base hits, including a grand slam off the bat of
Tyree Jackson.
Jackson currently leads the Huskies with nine RBI while also scoring six runs.
Jeremy Rader leads the team with eight runs scored while batting .314 with a team-high .442 on-base percentage.
Katcher Halligan already has five doubles, tied for the most in the SLC, and is batting .333 while
Anthony Avalos owns a team-best .357 batting average.
On the mound, starters
Joshua Caravalho,
David Lopez and
Ben Smith all earned wins in last weekend's series against Alcorn State, combining to strike out 22 batters with just two earned runs allowed in 16 innings pitched.
UIW (6-3) comes into the weekend off a 17-5 midweek loss at Tarleton State, the team's first game away from home. The Cardinals began the year with a 6-2 record in eight home games this included three against both UIC and Prairie View and a pair of midweek games against South Dakota State.
Senior Colin Cymbalista leads UIW with a team-best 13 runs scored. Cole Tabor has driven in 13 runs for a Cardinals roster that boasts eight players with at least two home runs already this season. On the mound, senior Zac Colletti has yet to allow a run in 11 innings with two wins while striking out nine and walking just one. As a team, UIW owns a 7.75 collective ERA.
Following their weekend series, the Huskies will next travel to Austin, Texas to face the Texas Longhorns at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in a rematch from last year's NCAA Regional on Tuesday, Mar. 3, at 6:30 p.m.
