BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team swept dual games against Sul Ross State University Saturday afternoon in Belton. UMHB finished yesterday's suspended game against the Lobos, winning that contest 11-0 then sealing the three-game sweep with a 12-0 win in the series' third game. The wins improved the Cru to 19-11 on the season and 17-7 in American Southwest Conference action while the Lobos fell to 3-26 overall and 2-21 in conference play.
UMHB opened the day sealing an 11-0 victory over the Lobos. UMHB played four innings of the contest yesterday before the game was suspended due to immiment lightning in the area. The Cru held an 11-0 advantage after four innings, highlighted by Leah Brown's record-breaking three home runs. Brown tied the ASC record for home runs in a contest and broke UMHB's mark in that category. UMHB finished the contest getting three outs in three Sul Ross State batters to seal the 11-0 victory. Brown led the Cru with three hits and three runs, adding six RBI in her three-for-three home run performance at the plate. Kourtney Bevers added two hits, two runs and two RBI while Karley Free and Bailey Bohlken each added an RBI. Haley Parker pitched a no-hitter in the contest, going five innings with two walks and one strikeout. UMHB totaled 11 runs on 12 hits with no errors while the Lobos had no hits runs or errors.
Leanne Hinojosa jumpstarted a lead for the Cru, hitting an RBI single to left field scoring Leah Brown from third base for a 1-0 Crusader lead. Jordan Hughes struck next, scoring Leanne Hinojosa with an RBI single up the middle for a two-run advantage after two innings. UMHB added five more runs in the bottom of the third for a 7-0 lead. Karley Free started the scoring with an RBI single, scoring Kourtney Bevers from second base. Myranda Hinojosa struck next, blasting a triple to the right field wall allowing Free and Leah Brown to score. Myranda Hinojosa scored next on an interference call followed by a Bailey Bohlken run on a passed ball to end the third inning with five runs. Free got on the board again in the bottom of the fourth with a home run over the left field wall to extend UMHB's lead to eight runs before Faith Escobar hit a two-RBI single, scoring Brown and Myranda Hinojosa for a 10-0 lead. Bevers followed that with a two-RBI single of her own, scoring Leanne Hinojosa and Escobar for a 12-0 UMHB lead and win. Bevers and Free led the Cru with two hits while five other Crusaders added one. Brown led the Cru with three runs while Free, Myranda Hinojosa and Leanne Hinojosa each added two. Haley Parker earned the win in the circle, pitching three innings with just one hit. Karen Tennis pitched in relief, going two innings with one hit. UMHB totaled 12 runs on 10 hits with two errors while the Lobos had two hits and one error.
UMHB will return to action in a Tuesday-Wednesday series at Louisiana College. UMHB will open the series on Tuesday, April 21st in a 3 p.m. doubleheader in Pineville and finish the series Wednesday, April 22nd in a 1 p.m. single game.
