LONGVIEW, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team dropped a doubleheader to LeTourneau University Friday evening in Longview, falling 8-2 and 6-4 to the YellowJackets. UMHB drops to 5-7 overall and 5-3 in American Southwest Conference with the losses, while LeTourneau improves to 8-4 on the season and 6-2 in league play.
 
UMHB jumped to a lead in the first game when Kourtney Cummings scored on an error in the top of the second, giving the Cru a 1-0 advantage. The YellowJackets responded with an explosive offense in the bottom of that frame, scoring five runs on four hits with one UMHB error. Ashley Crawford scored on an error before LeTourneau scored four more base runners on an RBI single form Kennedi Dillow and an RBI double from Haydn Parker. LeTourneau tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-1 lead. Taygan Landrey added one more Crusader run in the top of the sixth, scoring off a sacrifice fly from Alexis Galvan. LeTourneau recorded outs on the next two batters then held off two UMHB hits in the top of the seventh to secure the 8-2 win. Avery Kelly led the Cru with two hits while four other Crusaders added one each. CeCe Darilek took the loss for UMHB, pitching 1.2 innings with four hits and five runs allowed. Bailey Richey earned the win for the YellowJackets, throwing a complete seven innings with six hits and two runs allowed. Richey gave up just one earned run and struck out five batters.  UMHB totaled two runs on six hits with four errors while the YellowJackets had eight runs on eight hits with two errors.
 
The second contest remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Kasi Cummings hit an RBI single to score Hannah Wolfe for another 1-0 UMHB advantage. LeTourneau evened the contest in the bottom of that frame, then put together a five-run fifth inning to take a 6-1 lead. Ethel Warren and Dillow hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the fifth, followed by a two-RBI home run from Macey Mize and another RBI double from Katelyn Trombley. UMHB strung together a couple runs in the top of the seventh, but wasn't able to catch the YellowJackets. Galvan hit in Jacqueline Kay with an RBI single for UMHB's second run. Jessica Picou tacked on the third, scoring off a wild pitch before Emily Bounds hit in Galvan with an RBI single. UMHB left two on base as they fell 6-4 to LeTourneau. Wolfe led the Cru with two hits while four different Crusaders scored runs for UMHB. Kathryn Reed took the loss for UMHB, pitching 4.1 innings with five hits and five runs allowed. Reed struck out five and walked just one batter. Camryn Rucker pitched in relief, throwing 1.2 innings with one hit and one run allowed. Leigh Luker earned the win for the YellowJackets, allowing six hits and four runs in six innings of work. UMHB totaled four runs on eight hits with three errors while LeTourneau had six runs on six hits with two errors.
 
UMHB returns to action tomorrow in a 12 p.m. single game against the YellowJackets in Longview. The Cru returns home March 8^th-9^th in a three-game series against Hardin-Simmons University at Dee Dillon Field in Belton.