DALLAS, Texas – In a game that had six lead changes, a six-run seventh put the game out of reach for HBU as the Huskies suffered a 14-8 loss to Dallas Baptist to end a three-game series at Patriot Field on Saturday afternoon.
In the top of the first, freshman Travis Fuquay drew a leadoff walk and then stole second with one out. Then, with two outs, Andrew Taccolini singled in Fuquay followed by a single off the bat of Johnathon Moore. Taccolini also scored in the inning thanks to a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 Husky lead. In the bottom of the inning, DBU took advantage of a hit batter and an error to push across one run.
The Huskies once again made use of a leadoff walk to Robbie Buller in the second. Fuquay drew another walk with two outs and Eric Schiro hit his third double in two games to score Buller and bring the score to 3-1. The Patriots managed to answer in the bottom half, scoring two on a solo home run, a walk, a double and a passed ball to tie the game at 3-3.
Dallas Baptist added a run in the third to take a one-run lead. In the Husky fourth, Derek Smith was given a free pass to start the inning. Fuquay came up next and deposited his first collegiate home run over the left field wall to give HBU a 5-4 advantage. David Mark, coming back after leading the previous nights game due to a collision in center field, led off the fifth inning with his first home run of the season to push the score to 6-4.
DBU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on five hits, including a two-run home run. Trailing by one, HBU came out swinging in the top of the seventh. Smith started a two-out rally with a single to left and then advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw. Fuquay came up with another big hit, singling to left, driving in Smith and moving up to second on the throw home. With the game tied, Schiro singled to left to bring Fuquay around to score and give HBU an 8-7 lead.
The wheels fell off for the Huskies in the bottom of the seventh as DBU got two quick singles to open the inning. After reliever Keith Brunson induced a pair of flyball outs, a popup to shallow left bounced off shortstop Nick Homan’s glove allowing a run to score to tie the game. The next three hitters for DBU all homered to put the score at 13-8. The Patriots then added another run in the eighth.
Brunson was the hard-luck loser for HBU as he gave up eight runs over four innings, but just three of those were earned. The southpaw allowed 11 hits, struck out one and walked none as he falls to 1-3 on the season. Zac Schiefen started for the Huskies, lasting 2.2 innings and giving up four runs, only two of them earned, on four hits. Schiefen struck out three and walked three.
Fuquay enjoyed his best day at the plate as a Husky, reaching base four times, scoring three runs and driving in three. He was 2-4 with a pair of walks and a stolen base. Schiro drove in a pair of runs with a 2-5 performance. Smith reached base three times, finishing 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Taccolini and Buller each had two hits as well.
As a team, the Huskies pounded out 13 hits and had seven runs batted in. HBU left 12 men on base. Dallas Baptist finished with 18 hits and stranded 14 runners.
The Huskies fall to 2-23 on the season while DBU ups its record to 19-8.
HBU will next travel to San Marcos on Tuesday, April 7 for a single game against Texas State at 6:30 pm.
