BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split a doubleheader with Belhaven University Friday evening in Belton, taking a 9-0 win in the first contest before falling 5-2 to the Blazers. UMHB moved to 26-13 on the season while the Blazers went to 17-20.
 
Makenzi Dawson opened the first game with a triple down the right field line, scoring two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Leah Brown. That score held until the bottom of the fifth when UMHB scored four runs on two outs. Devon Walter opened the inning with an RBI single to score Linsey Tomlinson before Karley Free slammed a two-RBI single to score Dawson and Walter. Myranda Hinojosa closed scoring in the inning with an RBI single. Brown ended the game with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Walter, Dawson and Tomlinson for the 9-0 win. Brown led the Cru with five RBI while Dawson had a team-high three runs and three hits. Karen Tennis earned the win in the circle for UMHB, pitching six innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Taylor Surrento took the loss for the Blazers, pitching five innings with six hits allowed and five runs surrendered. UMHB totaled nine runs on eight hits with no errors while the Blazers had two hits with one error.
 
Belhaven used a three-run second inning to gain a lead on the Cru. The Blazers added one more run in the top of the fifth and held the Cru scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Leah Brown hit an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Devon Walter from second base. Belhaven added a solo run in the top of the seventh to take a four-run lead before Makenzi Dawson hit an RBI single to score Myranda Hinojosa in the bottom of the seventh. Brown led the Cru with three hits while Dawson and Cummings each recorded two. CeCe Darilek took the loss for UMHB, pitching 3.1 innings with four runs allowed. Haley Parker pitched in relief, allowing three hits and one run in 3.2 innings of work. Valiree Blair earned the win for the Blazers, allowing just two runs in a full seven-inning contest. UMHB totaled two runs on nine hits with four errors while the Blazers had five runs on five hits.
 
UMHB returns to action tomorrow in a 12 p.m. game against Belhaven University at Dee Dillon Field in Belton. The Cru will honor the 2017 senior class after that contest.