BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team swept a doubleheader with Sul Ross State University 5-1, 4-2 Friday afternoon in Belton. The wins improved the Cru to 21-12 on the season and 16-10 in American Southwest Conference action while the Lobos fell to 13-20 overall and 8-15 in league play.  

Cori Drake put UMHB on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning, slamming a two-RBI double down the left field line to score Myranda Hinojosa and Kasi Cummings. Drake then scored on an error to put the Cru up three runs after two innings. Kasi Cummings hit an RBI single in the bottom of the third to score Karley Free for a 4-0 lead after three. Sul Ross State's Zuriah Leyva responded with a home run over the centerfield wall in the top of the fourth inning. Linsey Tomlinson sealed the 5-1 win for the Cru with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Connor O'Neal. Makenzi Dawson led the Cru with three hits while Kasi Cummings, Drake and Tomlinson each added two. Drake and Tomlinson led the Cru with two RBI while five Crusaders combined for runs. Karen Tennis earned the win in the circle for UMHB, pitching a complete seven games with three hits and one run allowed. Jackie Gonzales took the loss for the Lobos, allowing five hits and three runs while Marissa Garcia pitched the final 4.2 innings, surrendering five hits and two runs. UMHB totaled five runs on 10 hits while the Lobos had one run on three hits with one error.

Neither team was able to generate a scoring offense early. CeCe Darilek pitched out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the top of the sixth to keep the Cru alive. UMHB then constructed a four-run sixth inning to gain advantage. Dawson opened scoring off an SRSU error before Leah Brown slammed an RBI double to score Devon Walter. Karley Free followed that with a two-RBI home run to put the Cru up by four. Alejandra Pasillas responded for the Lobos in the top of the seventh with a two-RBI triple as the Cru earned the 4-2 victory. Drake led the Cru with two hits while four other Crusaders recorded one each. Brown and Free each recorded RBI while four Crusaders combined for runs. Darilek earned the complete-game win for UMHB with three hits and two runs allowed. Bailey Garrett took the loss for the Lobos, pitching 5.1 innings with six hits and four runs allowed. UMHB totaled four runs on six hits while the Lobos had two runs on three hits with two errors.

The Cru will return to action tomorrow in a 12 p.m. single game against the Lobos at Dee Dillon Field in Belton.

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