Box Score Photo GalleryTYLER, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team dropped an 8-2 decision to Louisiana College Saturday afternoon in Tyler, eliminating the Cru from the American Southwest Conference Tournament.
The Wildcats started with a strong offensive surge in the top of the first, putting up five runs for a Wildcat advantage.
Leanne Hinojosa responded for the Cru in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI triple, driving in
Leah Brown from first. Louisiana College added three more runs before
Janie Neyland led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and scored off a wild pitch two batters later, cutting the Wildcats' lead to 8-2. The Cru was unable to respond in the seventh, falling to Louisiana College for the first time this season.
Six Crusaders recorded hits against the Wildcats, while Brown and Neyland both scored runs.
Haley Parker and
Rebekah Ragsdale combined in the circle for the Cru. Parker took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits while Ragsdale scattered eight hits over six innings allowing three runs and striking out three batters. UMHB totaled six hits and one error while the Wildcats had 13 hits and no errors.
The Cru ends the season at 30-14, going 23-10 in conference play for UMHB's third consecutive postseason appearance. Louisiana College will advance to face No. 2 seed East Texas Baptist at 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to face No. 1 seed U.T.-Tyler in the championship game on Sunday, May 4
th at 1 p.m. The winner of that game will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
