BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team fell in game one of the doubleheader 5-3, but bounced back in game two with a late rally that lifted them over ETBU, 7-6. The split brings the Crusaders' record to 14-12 overall and 8-10 in conference games. The Tigers go to 21-8 on the year and 18-3 in ASC play.
 
East Texas Baptist jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Austin Barry in the second inning of game one. UMHB was unable to respond and in the fourth inning, the Tigers extended their lead. Barry hit an RBI single to make it 2-0, Brett Wagner scored on a double play hit by Carson Wilson, and Charles Gordon added another with an RBI single. With the Cru down 4-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning, they were able to get on the board and cut the lead in half as Malek Bolin scored on a passed ball and Sam Muniga hit an RBI single to score Hunter Jones. ETBU bounced back in the sixth frame with another double play groundout by Wilson that scored Wagner to make a 5-2 lead. UMHB answered in the bottom half with an RBI double from Sam Muniga but that would be all for them. Rahul Champaneri started on the mound for the Crusaders and took the loss (1-4). Champaneri threw six innings and gave up five runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits. Zack Honey came in relief and threw the last inning and did not allow a run. Sayers Collins got the start for the Tigers and threw a complete game on his way to earning the win (7-1). Collins allowed three runs on six hits in the outing. Sam Muniga led the Crusaders with three hits and two RBI while Austin Barry and Carson Wilson each had two RBI for the Tigers.
 
Caimyn Holiday got UMHB on the board early in game two with an RBI single in the first inning. Holiday then came around to score on an error committed by the ETBU shortstop. Taking a 2-0 lead into the third frame, the Crusaders tacked on another run as Ryan Farmer hit an RBI single, making it 3-0. ETBU answered in the fourth inning on an RBI sacrifice flyout by Will Kelley followed by an RBI triple from Brett Wagner. In the same inning, Wagner was able to score and tie the game up at three on a passed ball. ETBU took the lead in the fifth inning on another RBI sacrifice flyout by Kelley and later added another on a Jase Jones RBI single. Down 5-3 heading to the bottom of the frame, UMHB was able to get one back and cut the lead in half as Warren Sammons hit an RBI double to make it 5-4. After a quiet sixth inning, Drake Herrera tied it up in the seventh as he scored on a throwing error by the Tiger center fielder. UMHB retook the lead in the same inning when Holiday scored on another ETBU error. Sam Muniga added on a necessary insurance run with an RBI single in the same inning to put the Cru up two runs. ETBU answered back in the next half inning on an RBI groundout from Samuel Rowland to cut the UMHB lead to 7-6, but that would be all.
 
Nicklas Fenner started on the mound for UMHB and threw five innings, giving up five runs on six hits and striking out four. Trevor Ripke came in relief and only allowed one run on five hits in 2.2 innings of work. Ripke earned the win, moving his season record to 4-3. Zack Honey made his second appearance of the day and earned his first save of the year as he went 1.1 innings without allowing a run on two hits. Jacob Sherman started for ETBU and gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Brandon Karnes relieved Sherman and surrendered the loss (2-1) after he gave up three runs on three hits in two innings of work. Jagger Neely threw the final inning for the Tigers and didn't allow a baserunner. Holiday led the Crusaders with three hits in the contest and Jase Jones led the Tigers with three hits of his own.
 
UMHB continues their season next weekend with a conference series against Concordia University Texas starting Friday, April 8^th at 6 P.M. in Belton.