BELTON, Texas – A late offensive rally lifted the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team to its second consecutive win versus a ranked opponent as the Cru beat No.16 Trinity University, 12-10 Tuesday evening in Belton. The win improved UMHB to 10-9 on the season while the Tigers dropped to 10-6.
 
Trinity opened up the scoring in the top of the first frame with an RBI fielder's choice from MJ Metz followed by an RBI double by Nathan Braulick. The Cru responded in the same frame with an RBI double from Malek Bolin and an RBI sacrifice bunt from Rhett Grosz to knot the score 2-2. Tanner Haney of the Tigers answered in the top of the second with an RBI single to give Trinity a 3-2 lead. The Tigers extended their lead in the fifth frame on a couple of RBI walks issued to Brian Schaub and Tyler Pettit. An RBI single from UMHB's Garrett Gregory in the same frame made it a 5-3 ballgame.
 
Trinity got another run across in the sixth inning, but the Crusaders quickly bounced back with a two-run sixth inning off an RBI single by Warren Sammons and an RBI walk by Carson Hagan. Trinity's Jack Peterson hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to score another run and give them a 7-5 lead. The Crusader offense surged in the bottom half of the seventh inning, scoring four runs to give them a 9-5 lead. RBI singles by Bolin, Sammons and Gregory, along with a throwing error by the Tiger catcher, allowed four runs to score. Trinity came right back in the eighth inning with a two-run single by Braulick to tie the game up at 9. UMHB threw the final punches in the bottom half of the same frame as Ryan Farmer hit a go-ahead solo homerun and Hunter Jones hit an RBI single. The Cru got an insurance run later in the inning on a Tiger error that scored Grosz. UMHB took the 12-9 lead into the ninth as pitcher Zach Carroll was able to get the final three outs, securing the win for the Cru.
 
Alex Palczewski started on the mound for the Cru and threw three innings, giving up three runs on six hits. Isaac Brann and Cameron Bogan pitched in relief and combined for three innings pitched, each allowing two runs to score. Chris Dubois threw one shutout inning in relief and Zach Carroll came in for the final five outs. Carroll earned the win (1-0) and didn't allow a run in his outing. Cade McGahan started on the mound for Trinity and threw 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. Cam Sheets relieved McGahan, throwing one inning with five runs on five hits allowed. Joseph Chavana threw 1.2 innings of relief and surrendered the loss (3-1) as he gave up three runs on four hits. The Crusader offense was led by Malek Bolin as he posted five hits with two RBI. Nathan Braulick had three hits and three RBI for the Tigers in the contest.
 
The Crusaders continue their season Friday as they travel to Mississippi and take on Belhaven University in a conference matchup. The series begins with a doubleheader starting at 4 P.M. Friday