BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team swept a Friday doubleheader over Sul Ross State University, beating the Lobos 2-1 and 3-1. UMHB improved to 27-9 on the season and 20-6 in American Southwest Conference action while the Lobos fell to 20-16 overall and evened at 13-13 in league play.
 
Annika Canaba hit in Camryn Hardin with an RBI triple in the third inning to give the Lobos a single-run lead in game one. Sul Ross held that lead until the bottom of the fifth inning when Bailey Eggleston scored from first base on a Lobo error. Blakely Niles hit in the go-ahead run in the next at-bat, scoring Kennedy Kalka with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 2-1 UMHB lead. Bayleigh Grogan threw three consecutive outs in the top of the sixth and allowed just one base runner in the seventh, securing the 2-1 win for the Cru. Six Crusaders combined for hits while Blakely Niles had the lone RBI. Emilee Wade started the game in the circle, throwing 2.1 innings with four hits and one run allowed. Grogan went 4.2 innings in relief, surrendering just three hits. UMHB totaled two runs on six hits with two errors while the Lobos had one run on seven hits with one error.
 
Eggleston scored the go-ahead run in the second game on an RBI single from Allyse Castillo. The Lobos tied the contest in the top of the next frame on an RBI double from Camryn Hardin, knotting the game at one run each after 2.5 innings. UMHB took another lead in the bottom of the third, scoring Kendall Tramel off an RBI single from Eggleston. Rachel Williams did not allow a base runner in the fourth or fifth innings and pitched out of a jam in the sixth to preserve the lead. UMHB added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Lexi Harris. Allyse Castillo opened the top of the seventh with a diving play at third base. The Lobos got just one runner on before the Crusader defense ended the inning, securing the 3-1 win. Elissa Elliott and Eggleston led the Cru with two hits each while three Crusaders combined for runs. Rachel Williams earned the win in the circle for the Cru, throwing seven innings with two hits and one run allowed. UMHB totaled three runs on eights while the Lobos had one run on two hits.
 
The Cru returns to action tomorrow in the final home game of the regular season. UMHB takes on the Lobos in an 11 a.m. contest at Dee Dillon Field. The Cru will honor the 2022 seniors after the contest.