ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split its first day of 2022 competition, going 1-1 against Hardin-Simmons University Friday evening in Abilene. UMHB moves to 1-1 in the American Southwest Conference and 2-2 overall while the Cowgirls moved to 3-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference.
 
UMHB opened the day with a three-up, three-down first inning with Rachel Williams in the circle. The contest remained scoreless until the third inning when Hardin-Simmons hit a three-run homerun followed by a run of an RBI single. The final four innings remained scoreless and the Cowgirls claimed the win 4-0. Four players recorded hits for the Cru, led by Milly Cesare and Blakely Niles with two each. UMHB totaled six hits while Hardin-Simmons had four runs on six hits.
 
The Cru opened the second contest with a score from Cesare, brought in by an RBI double from Elisabeth Paul in the first inning. The Cowgirls knotted the board up with a homerun in the bottom of the first. Niles took the lead for the Cru with a run in the second inning off a single by Cesare. UMHB held onto the lead through the seventh, claiming a 2-1 victory over the Cowgirls. Cesare, Paul and Lexi Harris all claimed two hits for the Cru. Bayleigh Grogan led UMHB to the win, pitching all seven innings, only allowing one run. The Cru totaled seven hits while Hardin-Simmons totaled ten.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, February 12^th, closing the series against Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.