Russ, HBU Baseball Hold Down UTRGV, 6-2

Photo from HBU Media Relations Department
Used with permission.

Junior RHP Addison Russ has dominating outing for Huskies.

From HBU Media Relations Department

EDINBURG, TEXAS (February 28, 2016) HBU junior righthander Addison Russ took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Huskies’ bats came alive in a 6-2 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley in the Al Ogletree Classic Saturday night at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Russ (2-0) allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk in seven innings. He had held UTRGV hitless through seven, until allowing four-straight singles to lead off the eighth. Senior righthander Matt Harding earned the first save of career, throwing a perfect final two innings.

Junior centerfielder Joe Van Marter went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run, while senior second baseman Greg Espinosa went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs for the Huskies (4-3). Junior rightfielder Brandon Brintz went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and senior first baseman Andrew Alvarez went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to seven games and his reaching safely streak to 17. Senior shortstop Louie Payetta also went 2-for-4.

Edgar Cordon, Isaac Gonzalez, Manny Loredo and Caden Rosholt had the four singles for UTRGV (2-5).

Ryan Jackson (0-2) took the loss for the Vaqueros, allowing six runs, three earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4.2 innings. Zach Martinez, Luis Larrinaga and George Lamb combined for 4.1 shutout innings in relief.

Espinosa led off the game by slapping a double down the rightfield line, then Payetta and Brintz followed with singles to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

With two outs in the fourth, senior third baseman Justin Monsour beat on an infield single, Van Marter reached on an error, then Espinosa blooped an RBI double to shallow left. Payetta walked to load the bases, then Brintz ripped a two-run single to right to extend HBU’s lead to 4-0.

Junior catcher Blake Thomas walked to lead off the fifth, then junior designated hitter Christian Thames blasted a double to left. Monsour brought another run home with a sacrifice fly, then Van Marter’s RBI single to left made the score 6-0.

Cordon pinch hit to lead off the eighth for UTRGV and singled to right to break up Russ’s no-hit bid. Gonzalez also pinch hit and bounced a single through the right side. Loredo singled to load the bases, then Rosholt’s RBI single fell just out of the reach of a diving Van Marter to cut the lead to 6-1. Harding came in and got Joseph Callazo to ground into a double play, which plated another run, but Austin Douglas stuck out looking to end the threat.

Harding then set down the Vaqueros in order in the ninth to preserve the win.

HBU wraps up the Al Ogletree Classic against Washington State Sunday at noon. The Legacy Sports Network broadcast with Russ Reneau can be heard at 11:45 a.m., beginning with the pregame show, on HBUHuskies.com. Fans can also watch the game via Periscope on the official HBU Athletics Twitter page, @HBUHuskies. The link for the Periscope broadcast will also be available on the “live video” link for the game on HBUHuskies.com.