Game 1 Photos | Game 1 Interview

BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team fell 2-1 to No. 3 East Texas Baptist in the championship match of the 2019 American Southwest Conference Softball Championship Tournament, earning the Cru the Runner-Up title in the tournament. The Tigers improved to 39-4 on the season with the win while the Cru went to 28-16
 
UMHB opened the day with a semifinal contest against Hardin-Simmons University. The Cowgirls jumped to an early lead in the top of the first inning, scoring a pair of runs for a 2-0 advantage. UMHB's offense surged from there, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a commanding lead over HSU. Allie Dalle opened the inning with a double then scored off an RBI single from Bounds. Bounds scored next on an RBI single by Kourtney Cummings before Cummings came across the plate off an RBI single from Alexis Galvan. Ashley Estrada followed with a two-RBI single before she and Cesare scored on back-to-back wild pitches. Jacqueline Kay ended the Cru's first-inning surge with a two-RBI home run, scoring Dalle and securing the Cru's 9-2 lead after one frame. Hardin-Simmons went down in order in the second inning before Avery Kelly got in on the scoring action, hitting another two-RBI home run for an 11-2 advantage. UMHB's defense allowed just one base runner in the final three innings of play to secure the 11-2 victory. Dalle and Hannah Wolfe led the Cru with two hits each while seven other Crusaders added one. Kay, Kelly and Estrada all led the Cru with two RBI each while Dalle led the Cru with two runs. Kat Reed opened the game in the circle for the Cru, allowing two runs on two hits. Bayleigh Grogan pitched a full five innings in relief, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. Taylor Hinojos took the loss for HSU, giving up six hits and seven runs. UMHB totaled 11 runs on 10 hits with one error while the Cowgirls had two runs on three hits with two errors.
 
The Cru advanced to face tournament-host East Texas Baptist University in the championship match of the tournament. Neither team was able to score until the bottom of the fourth inning when Allie hit a home run for the Cru, putting UMHB up 1-0 in the contest. The Cru held that lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Daniella Solis returned the favor for the Tigers, hitting a two-RBI home run to put ETBU up by one run. UMHB had two base runners in scoring position in the final two innings, but neither was able to scoring, giving the Tigers a 2-1 victory. Three Crusaders combined for hits in the contest with Dalle recording the only run and RBI for UMHB. Bayleigh Grogan took the loss for the Cru, pitching six innings with six hits and two runs allowed. Grogan struck out three batters and recorded just one walk. Beatriz Lara earned the win for ETBU, pitching a complete seven innings with three hits and one run allowed. UMHB totaled one run on three hits while the Tigers had two runs on seven hits.
 
Kourtney Cummings, Allie Dalle and Bayleigh Grogan represented UMHB on the All-Tournament team. East Texas Baptist University earned the league's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division III Softball Championships. That bracket will be released on Monday, May 6^th on ncaa.com. Tournament play opens with regionals May 10-12^th with the championship scheduled for May 23^rd – 28^th.