BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team opened the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Tournament one day early on Thursday, February 29^th. The Cru landed in Georgia and hours later faced off against No. 13 Case Western Reserve in its tournament opener.
 
The Spartans opened the game with a one-run first inning, scoring Karen Potts on a single from Savannah Gazda. CWRU threatened again in the second inning but UMHB's defense eliminated the threat to keep the game at one. The Spartans saw two base runners in the third but a pair of swinging strikeouts from Eileigh Whyte got the Cru out of that frame.
 
UMHB got its first base runner on in the fourth when Bailey Frenzel doubled to left field. The Spartans eliminated the scoring pressure in that frame before adding another run in the top of the fifth off an RBI from KaiLi Gross.
 
CWRU used a strong sixth inning to pick up a four-run lead on the Cru. Stevie Rieger opened with a double and then came around to score on an error for a 3-0 lead before Potts hit a single to score Kela Jagoda for a 4-0 margin. The Spartans added one more run in the seventh, securing their 5-0 win.
 
Bailey Frenzel and Taylor Henken both recorded hits for the Cru. Chloee Mason took the loss for the Cru, throwing 1.1 innings with three hits and one run allowed. Eileigh Whyte threw in relief, striking out four batters in her outing.
 
UMHB returns to action on Friday, March 1^st in a 5 p.m. (eastern) contest against Illinois Wesleyan University.