BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team rallied late but could not overcome an early deficit as the Cru fell to Southwestern University 6-4 Tuesday night in Belton. UMHB drops to 4-7 on the season with the loss. The Pirates improve to 3-4 on the year with the win.

Southwestern capitalized on two passed balls to grab a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ethan Hallmark's RBI double in the top of the second made it 3-0 Pirates. UMHB closed the gap to 3-1 on Hunter McQuary's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second. It would stay that way until Southwestern bunched two hits and four walks in a three-run seventh inning to stretch the lead to 6-1. Jeb Zolman's RBI double in the bottom of the seventh cut the gap to 6-2 and Max Conway blasted a drive to left field that Pirate outfielder Jason McCormack hauled in at the wall to end the inning. The Cru pulled to within 6-4 on Cameron Wachsmann's two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth, but could not get closer.

Bailey Whatley (0-2) took the loss for UMHB despite giving up just one earned run. Harrison Sims struck out four batters in two and a third innings of relief for the Cru. Zolman, Conway, Mark Frankhouser and Austin Blanford all had two hits apiece for UMHB. Colton Hunter earned the win for Southwestern and Jordan Scott notched his first save. Daniel Montgomery, Jr., Seth Sparks and Byron Dowdell III all had two hits for the Pirates.

The Cru baseball team will return to American Southwest Conference action with a three-game home series against Louisiana College this weekend. The two teams will play a 4:00 PM doubleheader on Friday before closing out the series with a 1:00 PM single game on Saturday.