BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team run ruled Austin College 12-2 in the 2024 season opener Friday night in Belton. The Cru improved to 1-0 on the season while the Roos fell to 0-1. Head Coach Mike Stawski also earned his 300^th career win as a collegiate head coach.

The Roos opened scoring in the first inning with one run, but the Cru took the lead scoring two in the bottom of the frame. Kaden deBerardinis got on base with a double before coming home on a Rhett Grosz single. On the next play, Riley Bender drove in Grosz to close the inning up 2-0.

UMHB continued to widen the gap in the third inning with a Tyler Betts run off a balk, followed by a Grosz RBI double to drive in Carson Hagan. Bender added a second RBI to score Grosz and bring the Cru up by four. The Cru held that lead with a duo of three-up, three-down innings with Andrew Acierni on the mound.

The Cru loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, bringing home Betts on a hit by a pitch from Easton Cline to go ahead 6-1. The Roos added a final score in the next frame on a sacrifice flyout.

UMHB responded with an explosive sixth inning, bringing in three runs. A Hagan double brought home Cameron Talburt and Chris Perez. Hagan advanced on a balk before Grosz singled to drive in Hagan to extend the margin 9-2. The Cru added two more in the seventh when Talburt tripled to score Perez and Farmer. UMHB secured the win with a walk-off score from Grosz on a Cline single.

Andrew Acierni earned his first win of the season for the Cru, throwing seven innings with just four hits and two runs. UMHB outhit the Roos 14-6, led by Grosz with four hits, three RBI and three runs.

UMHB returns to action Saturday, February 17^th in a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader to close the series against Austin College in Belton.