BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team outscored Hardin-Simmons University in a pair of matches Saturday afternoon in Belton, earning 4-3 and 8-3 wins over the Cowgirls. The wins improved UMHB to 21-12 overall and 15-8 in American Southwest Conference play while the Cowgirls fell to 13-18 overall and 9-10 in league play.   
 
Mason McCord gave the Cowgirls a lead in the first game, hitting a two-RBI home run just right of the foul pole in left field. Elissa Elliott's double in the bottom of that frame hit the outfield fence and bounced back inside, but scored Lexi Harris from second to cut the Cowgirls' lead. Bailey Wagner slammed a home run three pitches later, scoring Elliott and Milly Cesare to give the Cru a 4-2 lead. UMHB held that until the sixth inning when Karis Hessert hit a solo home run for the Cowgirls, cutting UMHB's lead to just one run. Hardin-Simmons had runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth, but a pair of putouts from Milly Cesare preserved the Cru's 4-3 win.
 
Alyssa Bates led UMHB with four hits while six other Crusaders added one each. Four different UMHB athletes scored runs with a team-high three RBI coming from Wagner. Bayleigh Grogan pitched the full seven-inning contest with 10 hits and three runs allowed. Grogan struck out four batters and walked just one for the Cru. Kaylen Washington took the loss for the Cowgirls, giving up seven hits and four runs. Kelly Shackleford pitched in relief, allowing just one hit in three innings of work. UMHB totaled four runs on eight hits while the Cowgirls had three runs on 10 hits with one error.
 
UMHB took an early lead in the second contest when Lexi Harris scored on an error. Hardin-Simmons responded with a run in the top of the fourth before UMHB used a pair of extra-base hits to gain a four-run lead in the bottom of that inning. Lexi Harris hit a two-RBI triple to centerfield and Milly Cesare hit a home run over the right field wall to advance the Cru's lead. HSU's Kate Tovar and Karis Hessert hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut UMHB's lead to just two runs. Harris and Cesare hit back-to-back singles in the bottom of that frame then scored on a home run from Elliott. Hardin-Simmons loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning but Cesare made a diving catch in foul territory to end the game with an 8-3 UMHB win.
 
Harris, Cesare and Elliott led the Cru with two hits each while Elliott had a team-high three RBI and Harris led with two runs. Camryn Rucker earned the win for UMHB, pitching 5.1 innings with five hits and two runs allowed. Jules Martinez earned the save with two hits and one run allowed in 1.2 inning of work. Haven Williams took the loss for the Cowgirls, surrendering nine hits and seven runs in five innings. UMHB totaled eight runs on nine hits while the Cowgirls had three runs on seven hits with three errors.

UMHB returns to action tomorrow in a 2 p.m. single game against the Cowgirls at Dee Dillon Field in Belton.