BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split its doubleheader with McMurry University Friday afternoon in Belton, falling 9-5 to the War Hawks before earning a 6-0 win to close the series. UMHB improved to 12-12 on the season and 9-6 in American Southwest Conference action, while the War Hawks fell to 9-14 overall and 5-8 in league play.
 
McMurry opened the first contest with a 4-0 first inning, scoring three runs off two RBI singles and one run off a walk. UMHB responded in the bottom of that frame scoring two runs on an RBI double from Kourtney Cummings and an RBI single from Hannah Wolfe. The Cru then used a three-run second inning to take a one-run lead. Avery Kelly opened the inning with a triple then scored off an RBI single from Jacqueline Kay. Allie Dalle followed that an RBI double to score Kay before Emily Bounds hit an RBI single to score Dalle. McMurry used another four-run inning to gain advantage, scoring four runs off three hits in the top of the fourth to take an 8-5 lead. The War Hawks tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth and held the Cru to three scoreless innings to secure the 9-5 victory. Dalle and Bounds led the Cru with two hits each while five Crusaders combined for runs. Camryn Rucker took the loss for UMHB, pitching five innings with seven hits and five runs allowed. Hope Schoeneman earned the win for McMurry, throwing a complete seven innings with 10 hits and five runs allowed. UMHB totaled five runs on 10 hits with one error while McMurry had nine runs on 10 hits with no errors.
 
UMHB used an explosive second inning to take a lead in the second contest. Taygan Landrey opened scoring, reaching on an error before Allie Dalle slammed a two-RBI double, scoring Milly Cesare and Jessica Picou for a 3-0 UMHB lead. Alexis Galvan batted in two more runs for the Cru in the bottom of the next frame, hitting in Kourtney Cummings and Bounds with a two-RBI double to centerfield. Bayleigh Grogan threw three more scoreless frames to preserve UMHB's 5-0 lead. Avery Kelly tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, reaching off another RBI double from Dalle. Grogan threw three straight outs in the top of the seventh, giving UMHB the 6-0 win. Dalle led the Cru with two hits and three RBI while six Crusaders combined for runs. Grogan earned the win in the circle for UMHB, throwing seven innings with one hit allowed. Grogan struck out six batters and did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. Emily Levario took the loss for McMurry, giving up six runs and nine hits in six innings of work. UMHB totaled six runs on nine hits with one error while the War Hawks had one hit and two errors.
 
UMHB returns to action Friday, March 29^th in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Concordia University Texas in Austin.