BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split its doubleheader with Hardin-Simmons University Friday evening in Belton, falling 4-1 to the Cowgirls before earning an 8-7 walk-off win. The Cru improved to 18-16 on the season with 15-14 mark in American Southwest Conference action while the Cowgirls moved to 15-18 overall and 12-14 in league play.
 
Karley Free gave the Cru its first lead of the day with a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hardin-Simmons added two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 advantage. Sydnie Darden scored first off an RBI fielder's choice from Braleigh Middleton before Middleton scored off an RBI single to left field from Katelyn Joyner. Hardin-Simmons added two more run in the top of the seventh, securing the 4-1 win. Free led the Cru with two hits followed by four other Crusaders with one each. Karen Tennis took the loss for UMHB, pitching six innings with six hits and three runs allowed. Tennis struck out five batters and walked just one. Kelsey Knox pitched in relief, allowing one run and one hit in one inning of work. Tori Rodriguez earned the win for Hardin-Simmons, pitching a complete game with three strikeouts. UMHB totaled one run on six hits with two errors while the Cowgirls had four runs on seven hits with no errors.
 
Hardin-Simmons opened the second game with a run in the top of the second, giving the Cowgirls a one-run lead. Sydnie Darden drove in Marisa Ledkins in the top of the third inning for a 2-0 lead before Darden scored off an RBI single from Braleigh Middleton for a 3-0 advantage. Lauren Williams followed that with a home run to left field, giving the Cowgirls a five-run lead after the top of the third. UMHB added one run in the bottom of the third when Myranda Hinojosa slammed a double to the left field wall, scoring Kourtney Bevers from second. Hinojosa scored one play later off a groundout from Leah Brown, cutting the Cowgirls' lead to three runs. Hardin-Simmons added one more run in the top of the fourth and top of the sixth before UMHB scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leah Brown opened the inning with a home run to right field. Christy Garrett scored next, reaching off an RBI single from Devon Walter. Kasi Cummings followed that with an RBI single to score Cori Drake before Walter scored on a groundout from Kourtney Bevers, bring the game within one run after six innings. Hardin-Simmons went down scoreless in the top of the seventh and with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Kasi Cummings hit a double to left center field, scoring Free and Drake for an 8-7 walk-off win for the Cru. Kasi Cummings led the Cru with three hits followed by Drake with two. Kasi Cummings also had a team-high three RBI, followed by Brown with two. UMHB's Haley Parker earned the win, pitching 4.2 innings with six runs and nine hits allowed. Genia Jones took the loss for Hardin-Simmons, pitching 1.1 innings with one hit and two runs allowed. UMHB totaled eight runs on 11 hits with two errors while the Cowgirls had seven runs on 12 hits with one error.
 
UMHB finishes the series tomorrow in an 11 a.m. game against the Cowgirls at Dee Dillon Field in Belton. The Cru will honor its graduating seniors after the contest.