HBU stays alive after downing McNeese in Southland Conference Tourney

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 26, 2017) The No. 4 Houston Baptist University Huskies rallied from a two-run deficit in the top of the first inning to down the No. 1 McNeese StateCowboys by the score of 5-4 in an elimination game for both schools in the 2017 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament. The very vocal fans at Constellation Field on Friday, May 26, 2017, saw the Huskies score one run in the second innings and two additional runs in both the third and fourth innings to put the game away and advance to a 7 p.m. game against No. 5 Central Arkansas. The nightcap game will also be a must win for HBU, having lost to the Bears 15-4 in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday, May 24.

The Huskies and Bears have faced each other four times previously this season, including the first-round matchup on Wednesday. The Bears took the first and last game of the three-game series by the scores of 4-3 and 17-4. HBU won the middle game, 5-3, on April 8 on their home field. McNeese won their first game on the tournament over No. 8 Lamar (7-5), before dropping their second game of the tournament, 5-3 to Central Arkansas.

HBU scored their five runs off 10 hits, including a home run by shortstop Tyler Depreta-Johnson; his second of the season. First baseman Jake Pulcheon was 2-for-4, with two RBI, while designated hotter Christian Thamas was 2-for-3 with one run. Starter Daniel Endsley received his third win of the season; pitching 8.1 innings. Zach Carter, pitching 2/3 of an innings in relief, was credited with the save.