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BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team could not generate enough offense as the Cru dropped both ends of a doubleheader to LeTourneau University Friday evening in Belton. UMHB is now 0-2 overall and in American Southwest Conference play to start the season. LeTourneau improves to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the ASC on the year.
LeTourneau won a pitcher's duel in game one 1-0. The game was scoreless into the top of the fourth inning. The YellowJackets put together back-to-back two-out singles to put runners on the corners. Bryce Brueggemeyer would then score on a balk. UMHB put runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings but could not push across the tying run. The Cru threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, but LeTourneau's Jedidiah Crone erased one runner on a squeeze bunt attempt and ended a bases-loaded rally try with a strikeout to close it out.
Jeb Zolman took the loss despite scattering three hits and striking out 10 in five and a third innings of work.
Caimyn Holiday had two of UMHB's six hits. Raul Martinez earned the win for the YellowJackets after striking out nine, walking three and giving up four hits. Crone earned the save with two scoreless innings of relief work.
The Cru lost game two by a 4-1 score. UMHB jumped out to a 1-0 lead when
Mateo Calle doubled home
Malek Bolin in the bottom of the fourth. The YellowJackets took a 2-1 lead on RBI singles from Noah Arellano and Kyle Maysonave in the top of the seventh inning. The Cru left two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth and LeTourneau tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the ninth. The Cru loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but once again were unable to push across a run to cut into the lead.
Andrew Acierni took the loss after giving up six hits and one earned run in eight innings. He struck out eight and walked one. Bolin had two of the Cru's six hits in that game.
The two teams will close out the series with a 1 pm single game on Saturday. The Cru will continue its home stand with a 6 pm non-conference game Tuesday against Texas Lutheran.
