BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split a doubleheader with Howard Payne University Friday evening in Belton, dropping a 7-4 decision to the Yellow Jackets before responding with a 12-0 win. UMHB moved to 8-2 on the season and 3-2 in American Southwest Conference play while Howard Payne went to 4-6 overall and 2-3 in league action.
 
Makenzi Dawson gave UMHB a lead in the first contest, scoring off a wild pitch to put UMHB up 1-0. Howard Payne added two runs in the top of the third inning before the Cru converted a double play to end the inning trailing 2-1. Leah Brown scored in the bottom of the third off a sacrifice bunt from Myranda Hinojosa before Hinojosa and Karley Free scored off a two-RBI single from Cori Drake. UMHB ended the third inning with a 4-2 lead before the Yellow Jackets constructed a five-run inning in the sixth to take a three-run lead. Tayler Rushing scored first on a wild pitch before Kayla Boucher hit a grand slam, scoring Haley Slater, Kodi Glosson and Tiffany Hinkleman. UMHB was unable to respond, giving Howard Payne a 7-4 series-opening win. Free and Christy Garrett led the Cru with two hits each while four Crusaders added runs. Gabrielle Roque led the Yellow Jackets with two hits. Karen Tennis took the loss for UMHB with five runs in five innings. Madison Witherwax earned the win for Howard Payne, pitching four innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. UMHB totaled four runs on eight hits with three errors while the Yellow Jackets had seven runs on eight hits with three errors.

UMHB opened the second game with a 3-0 lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. Jordan Hughes hit an RBI double to right field to score Hinojosa before Devon Walter hit a two-RBI single, scoring Hughes and Bailey Bohlken. The Cru then scored five runs off six hits in the bottom of the third inning. Kourtney Cummings opened the inning with a double. Hinojosa scored her one batter later off an RBI triple before Bohlken reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Hinojosa. Jordan Hughes struck next, slamming an RBI single to score Christy Garrett before Hughes scored one batter later off an RBI double from Makenzi Dawson. Dawson was the last base runner to score in the inning, reaching off an RBI double from Walter for an 8-0 UMHB lead. The Cru added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to secure the 12-0 victory. Walter and Garrett led the Cru with three hits each three other Crusaders added two. Walter and Bohlken each hit a team-high three RBI while Hinojosa scored a team-high three runs. Haley Parker earned the win in the circle for UMHB, pitching a shutout five innings with four hits allowed. Tonya Thompson took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, pitching 2.1 innings with 10 hits and eight runs allowed. UMHB totaled 12 runs on 15 hits with one error while Howard Payne had no runs on four hits with two errors. 

The Cru returns to action on Saturday, February 18^th in a 12 p.m. single game against the Yellow Jackets at Dee Dillon Field in Belton.