BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team was able score first and hold their lead to take home the 8-3 win over the McMurry War Hawks in game one of their conference series. The Crusader win moves them to 3-1 overall and 3-1 in American Southwest Conference play. The loss for the War Hawks drops them to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in ASC play.
 
After three scoreless innings from both sides, UMHB was able to open in the scoring in the top of the fourth inning. Rhett Grosz hit a two-out groundball that was misplayed by the second basemen, allowing Hunter Jones to score. The very next hitter was able to take advantage of the two-out error as Kaden Deberardinis hit a two-run homer to give the Cru a 3-0 lead. In the next inning Caimyn Holiday was able to extend the lead with a solo homerun and three batters later, Hunter Jones also went deep for a two-run homer that also scored Warren Sammons. Down 6-0 in the sixth inning, McMurry was able to cut the lead in half with a two-run double followed by an RBI single. The scoring would stop until the top of the ninth where UMHB was able to get a couple of insurance runs. Holiday was able to advance to third on a wild pitch and a throwing error by the McMurry catcher allowed him to advance home and score. Malek Bolin was able to score the exact same way later in the inning, making the score 8-3 going into the bottom of the ninth.
 
James McGlumphy got the start on the mound for the Cru and was able to secure his first collegiate win. McGlumphy pitched six innings giving up three runs on four hits while striking out six, not allowing his first hit until the sixth inning. Alex Palczewski would come in relief and throw two innings giving up just one hit and striking out three. Trevor Ripke came in and shut the door for the Cru pitching the ninth inning giving up two hits. Four Crusader hitters had two hits each on the night and Jones added the other. Derek Hostas got the start for the War Hawks and threw seven innings giving up six runs on six hits while striking out six. He would surrender the loss and move to 0-2 on the year. Dylan Schafer threw one inning giving up two runs. Grayson Winter was able to relieve Schafer in the ninth and get the last three outs for the War Hawks. Reed Hodges led the War Hawks with two hits as several others added one each.
 
UMHB and McMurry will close out the series Saturday, February 19th in a 1:00 P.M. double header in Abliene.