University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics

Belton, TX - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team used a three-run, seventh-inning comeback for a game one victory, but the Cru's comeback fell short in game two as UMHB split a doubleheader with Hardin-Simmons University Friday afternoon in Belton. UMHB took game one 3-2 before falling 3-1 in game two. The Cru is now 20-18 overall and 13-9 in American Southwest Conference play following the split. Hardin-Simmons moves to 28-10 overall and 19-3 in the ASC following the split.

The Cru fought back from a 2-0 deficit with a three-run, seventh-inning rally for that 3-2 game one victory. HSU took a 1-0 lead on Courtney Clark's RBI single in the top of the fifth inning and the Cowgirls pushed it to 2-0 on Clark's sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh. UMHB then started the comeback in the bottom of that frame. Courtney Johnston singled home the first run, Caitlin Wells added an RBI single and Sara Roman came home to score the game-winner on a fielding error by the Cowgirls centerfielder. Kelsey Greeson earned the win for the Cru to improve to 11-9. Greeson scattered four hits and struck out six. Lacie Cole took the loss for HSU. Johnston and Wells had two hits apiece for UMHB. Cera Beasley had three of the Cowgirls four hits in the game.

The Cru could not overcome a 3-0 deficit as UMHB's seventh-inning comeback fell short in a 3-1 game two loss. Hardin-Simmons took a 1-0 lead on Clark's solo homer in the top of the sixth inning. Clark added an RBI double and a run-scoring error push it to 3-0 Cowgirls in the top of the seventh. Sabrina Garcia's RBI single cut it to 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, but that's as close as the Cru could get. Courtney Johnston had two of UMHB's three hits in the game. Clark was 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Mandy Staton took the loss for the Cru to drop to 8-8 on the season. Sarah Shurbet earned the win for HSU to improve to 14-2 on the year.

The two teams will close out the series with a 12:00 PM doubleheader tomorrow at Dee Dillon Field. UMHB needs a sweep and for Texas Lutheran to beat Schreiner at least once to clinch a berth in the ASC Championship Tournament next weekend.