Box Score Box Score
Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team created enough offense to support a standout pitching performance from
Chance Ryan and the Cru topped Sul Ross State 6-3 Friday afternoon in Belton. UMHB improves to 21-16 overall and 12-7 in American Southwest Conference West Division play with the victory. More importantly, the Cru also clinches a berth in the ASC Championship Tournament with the win. Sul Ross State falls to 17-16 overall and 9-10 in the ASC with the loss. The Lobos are still mathematically alive for a berth in the ASC Tournament, but Sul Ross needs a sweep tomorrow and a Hardin-Simmons sweep of McMurry for that to happen.
Sul Ross took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. UMHB answered with
Andrew White's solo home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game. The Cru then added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.
Josh Fredrick singled home the first run and
Chris Joshlin scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1. UMHB would stretch it to 6-1 with a three-run sixth inning.
Kyle Flynn's single drove in the first run and
Joseph Villegas added an RBI fielder's choice before coming around to score on an error later in the inning. James Johnson cut it to 6-3 with a two-run homer for the Lobos in the top of the seventh, but that's as close as Sul Ross could get. Ryan would set down seven in a row before Kurt Hurley singled with one out in the top of the ninth.
Jared Hopper then came on in relief for UMHB. Johnson blooped a fly ball to shallow right-centerfield.
Alfredo Melendez came on to catch the ball and threw to catcher
Ryan Moreau covering first base to double off pinch-runner Fernando Dominguez to end the game.
Ryan scattered seven hits over eight and a third innings and he struck out seven while walking two. Ryan allowed just two earned runs to raise his record to 5-2. Hopper picked up his first save of the season. Nathan Molina took the loss for the Lobos to drop to 7-4 after giving up nine hits and three earned runs in eight innings. White had three hits for the Cru and Joshlin added a pair of hits. Hurley and Brennyn Smith had two hits apiece for Sul Ross State.
The two teams will close out the regular season with a 12:00 PM doubleheader tomorrow at Red Murff Field. UMHB will then advance to the ASC Championship Tournament for the fourth straight year. The Cru's seeding in the ASC Tournament will depend on tomorrow's outcome and the results of the HSU-McMurry and TLU-Concordia series this weekend.
