HOUSTON, TEXAS – University of the Incarnate Word junior
Cody Richey (Fair Oaks/Comfort HS) pitched seven terrific innings and only allowed one unearned run, but still came out on the losing end of a 2-0 deficit against Houston Baptist University to drop the Southland Conference baseball series 2-1 on Sunday at Husky Field.
Richey pitched his best game of the season, striking out two without a walk and only allowing three hits. The lone run he allowed only came in to score due to a dropped fly ball in right field, which would have been the third out of the inning in the seventh, but instead gave the Huskies (14-14, 5-4 SLC) a 1-0 lead.
HBU then added an insurance run in the eighth inning using small ball. Zane Otten led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then came in to score on a single by Louie Payetta.
The Cardinals (7-21, 2-7 SLC) out-hit the Huskies for the third straight game on Sunday, but left seven runners on base and were unable to score. Their biggest threat came in the seventh when they loaded the bases after
Tanner Wall (San Antonio/Johnson HS) singled,
Cory Duran (Lewisville/Lewisville HS) walked and
Bryce Shepherd (Coldspring/Coldspring-Oakhurst HS singled with only one out. The Husky closer, Dylan Zarosky came in and allowed the single to Shepherd, but then got a fly out and a full count strike out to end the threat.
After collecting the save in game one of the series, Zarosky picked up the win in this one to move his record to 2-2. Zach Carter, who started the game, got a no decision after throwing 6.1 scoreless innings. He scattered five hits, no walks and struck out five Cardinals.
Payetta was the only Husky with two hits and also added a run and an RBI. For the Cardinals,
Eddy Gonzalez (Laredo/United HS) and Duran each collected two hits, including the only extra base hit of the night for UIW, a double from Duran in the ninth.
The Cardinals next game is on the road Tuesday when they face UT Rio Grande Valley in a non-conference game at 6:30 p.m.
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