BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team completed its three-game sweep of Hardin-Simmons University with a 9-2 win over the Cowgirls Sunday afternoon in Belton. UMHB improved to 22-12 overall and 16-8 in American Southwest Conference action while the Cowgirls fell to 13-19 on the season and 9-11 in league play.
 
UMHB's offense came out swinging, scoring three runs in the first inning. Lexi Harris and Milly Cesare led off the inning with back-to-back singles and scored on a sacrifice fly from Bailey Wagner and a double from Bailey Eggleston. Tatum Stover followed, hitting in Eggleston with a double. Hardin-Simmons put a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning, but Bayleigh Grogan struck out two to get out of the inning. UMHB added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back RBI singles from Wagner and Eggleston. Hardin-Simmons scored two runs in the top of the sixth off a wild pitch and a groundout to cut UMHB's lead. The Cru responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alyssa Bates scored on a bunt from Lexi Harris before Kenzie Bush stole home. Elissa Elliott followed with an RBI double that scored Harris and Cesare. The Cowgirls put one runner on base in the top of the seventh but Camryn Rucked forced two fly outs to end the contest.
 
Eggleston led the Cru with three hits while three Crusaders recorded two RBI each and Harris led with three runs. Bayleigh Grogan earned the win in the circle for UMHB, throwing five shutout innings with just four hits allowed. Rucker threw in relief, going two innings with two hits and two runs given up. Kelly Shackelford took the loss for the Cowgirls, going six innings with 13 hits and nine runs allowed. UMHB totaled nine runs on 13 hits with no errors while the Cowgirls had two runs on six hits with two errors.

UMHB closes out the regular season next weekend against Concordia University Texas. The Cru will host the Tornados in a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and close the series with a 12 p.m. single game on Saturday.