BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Baseball team defeated Sul Ross State University 8-7 in extra innings Thursday evening in Belton.
 
Right-hander, Bryce Farlander was on the mound first for the Crusaders, opening with a perfect first inning. In the top of the second, the Lobos were able to break the scoreless tie, scoring one run. The threat was ended with a spectacular diving play by Kaden deBerardinis in center field. UMHB would answer in the bottom-half of the inning. Carson Hagan doubled and proceeded to steal third, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Elijah Rodriguez. In the top of the third Farlander was able to get out of a jam with another Kaden deBerardinis diving catch in left center.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, UMHB grabbed the lead following a Rhett Grosz leadoff triple, allowing Hunter Jones to drive him in with a double. Jones would steal third and Elijah Rodriguez would drive him in on a groundout to the second baseman.
 
The Lobos would strike back in the sixth, scoring six runs. Trailing 7-3, the Cru managed to get two runs back courtesy of Sam Muniga and Tyler Betts, both having an RBI in the inning. UMHB kept their momentum in the seventh, starting with Elijah Rodriguez throwing out a potential base stealer and helping Jacob Haynes to pitch a clean inning.
 
The scoring would subside until the bottom of the ninth inning when the Cru would come alive again. Hayden Guerin led the inning off with a single and scored when Warren Sammons got hit by a pitch. Next batter, Sam Muniga placed a perfect sacrifice bunt scoring Carson Hagan from third. The Cru manage to tie the game at seven to force extra innings.
 
Nicklas Fenner took the mound for UMHB in the top of the 10^th, recording a hitless inning to hold the Lobos to seven. deBerardinis hit a single to right field in the bottom of the inning followed by a pair of walks from Ryan Farmer and Rhett Grosz to load the bases. With the next at-bat, Carson Hagan singled to score deBerardinis for the 8-7 walk off victory.
 
Fenner earned the win for the Cru, pitching one hitless inning. UMHB had six pitchers make appearances, allowing 15 hits and recording five strikeouts. The Cru totaled 13 hits, led by Muniga with two hits and two RBI.
 
UMHB returns to action Friday, April 27^th in a noon start doubleheader to close the three-game series against Sul Ross State University.