BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader at Hardin-Simmons University, winning the series 2-1. The Cru dropped a close 4-3 decision to the Cowboys before responding with a 6-1 win in game three.
 
Andrew Acierni opened the game allowing just one base runner in the first two innings, highlighted by a great play at third base from Carson Hagan. The Cowboys put runners on second and third in the bottom of the third frame before Colby Seltzer blasted a home run over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead. Hagan opened the fifth inning with a single and advanced to third on a single from Blake Harmon. Drake Herrera scored Hagan two batters later on a sacrifice fly to cut the gap to two runs. The Cowboys scored another run on an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead back to three. Hagan hit a sacrifice fly to score Tyler Martin in the top of the sixth before Ryan Farmer stole third then scored on an error in the seventh. UMHB had the tying run on third but wasn't able to bring them home, falling to the Cowboys 4-3.
 
Hagan led the Cru with two hits while five other Crusaders each added one. Three different Crusaders combined for runs with Hagan and Herrera both recording an RBI. Acierni took the loss, throwing five innings with six hits and four runs allowed. Nicklas Fenner pitched one shutout inning in relief. UMHB totaled three runs on seven hits with tow errors while the Cowboys had four runs on six hits with four errors.
 
Rahul Champaneri opened the game with four shutout innings, allowing just total base runners with a perfect frame in the third. Ryan Farmer opened the top of the fifth with a double to enter field and advanced to third on the next at-bat. Blake Harmon scored Farmer with an RBI triple before he reached home on a passed ball for a 2-0 UMHB lead. Champaneri pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of fifth inning, ending his day with just two hits allowed and six strikeouts in five innings on the mound.
 
Nicklas Fenner entered the game in the sixth, allowing a single before throwing a trio of strikeouts to end the sixth. Kaden deBerardinis added the Cru's third run in the eighth inning scoring on a sacrifice fly from Hayden Guerin.
 
Colby Seltzer hit his second home run of the day to put Hardin-Simmons on the board in the eighth inning but UMHB responded again, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth. Hunter Jones opened the frame with a single and Carson Hagan followed with a fielder's choice. Ryan Farmer hit in Hagan with a double to left center before scoring on an error for a 5-1 UMHB lead. Tyler Betts batted in the Cru's final run, scoring Elijah Rodriguez with a single. Fenner pitched a strikeout in the final inning to secure the 2-1 series win for the Cru.
 
Kaden deBerardinis and Farmer led the Cru with two hits each as UMHB totaled nine in the contest. Farmer also scored a team-high two runs while four different Crusaders combined for RBI. Fenner ended his four-inning outing with three hits and one run allowed, striking out five batters with one walk.  
 
UMHB improved to 9-15 on the season and 6-12 in American Southwest Conference action. The Cru returns to action on Tuesday, April 11^th in a 6 p.m. contest at Southwestern University in Georgetown.