BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team swept its home opener against Southwestern University Friday evening in Belton, earning 9-1 and 4-2 wins over the Pirates. UMHB improved to 2-1 on the season while the Pirates opened their 2024 campaign at 0-2.
 
UMHB took a lead in the bottom of the second inning when Tori Skinner scored on an error. The Cru added two more third-inning runs with Bailey Eggleston scoring on a wild pitch and Kylie Green reaching on a sacrifice fly.
 
Southwestern responded in the top of the fourth with a run off an RBI single from Jaden Wheeler. UMHB mirrored in the bottom of that frame with Madeline Stephenson scoring Allyse Castillo with an RBI double. The Cru added one more run in the bottom of the fifth when Bailey Frenzel scored on a passed ball. UMHB tacked on three more runs that inning when Gabriela Vela hit a home run to put the Cru up 8-1 after five innings. Bralyn sealed the win for the Cru, hitting a home run over the left field wall for a 9-1 victory.
 
Nine different Crusaders recorded hits in the contest. Tori Skinner led the Cru with two runs scored, while seven other Crusaders also reached home. Vela was the RBI leader with three, followed by Madeline Stephenson, Bailey Frenzel and Bralyn Belk with one each. UMHB totaled nine runs on nine hits with one error while the Pirates had one run on five hits with three errors. Chloee Mason also earned her first win in the circle, throwing six innings with six strikeouts and just two walks.
 
Southwestern opened game two with a pair of runs on a homer but UMHB responded, scoring Tori Skinner off an RBI from Kylie Green. That 2-1 score held until the fourth inning when Kaitlin Powers scored the equalizer for the Cru off a single to the shortstop from Lindsey Polleschultz.
 
UMHB took the lead in the fifth inning when Allyse Castillo scored on an error. Bailey Frenzel hit in an insurance run for the Cru later in that frame, putting UMHB ahead by two runs. Eileigh Whyte pitched a pair of perfect innings in the sixth and seventh to secure the win for UMHB. Whyte earned the win in the circle, giving up just three hits with two earned runs and four strikeouts in her Crusader opener.
 
Polleschultz and Frenzel led the Cru with two hits each while four different Crusaders added runs. Green, Frenzel and Stephenson also recorded RBI. UMHB totaled four runs on six hits with no errors while the Pirates had two runs on three hits with one error.
 
UMHB returns to action in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Classic March 1^st – 3^rd in Columbus, GA.