MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team rallied late but came up one run short in a 5-4 loss to East Texas Baptist Saturday in Marshall. The Cru falls to 9-24 overall and 4-12 in American Southwest Conference play with the loss. The Tigers improve to 27-10 overall and 16-5 in ASC play with the victory.
 
ETBU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and added a run in the third for a 3-0 lead. Those runs came on two solo homers and a bases loaded walk. Hunter McQuary singled home Jackson Godoy in the top of the fourth as UMHB closed the gap to 3-1. The Tigers tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth to build a 5-1 advantage. Landon Dieterich blasted a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to pull the Cru to within 5-4. ETBU put a runner on third base with one out in the bottom of that inning, but Jeb Zolman worked out of that jam for UMHB to keep it a one-run game. The Cru threatened in the top of the eighth, but Tiger centerfielder Brady Faulkner came up with a diving catch to end the inning and preserve the ETBU lead. UMHB would go in order in the top of the ninth as the Tigers held on to complete the series sweep.
 
Bailey Whatley took the loss for the Cru to drop to 1-2 on the year. McQuary and Caimyn Holiday had two hits apiece to lead UMHB's offense. Dieterich drove in three runs and Godoy scored two for the Cru. Call Florence earned the win for ETBU to move to 3-2 on the season and Chad Boudreaux notched his fourth save. Seth Mikeska and Landon Barns had two hits apiece for the Tigers.
 
The Cru will return to action with a 7 pm non-conference game at Texas Lutheran University Tuesday in Seguin. UMHB will then close out the season with a three-game ASC home series against Concordia Texas beginning on Thursday night.