BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team defeated McMurry University 8-3 Friday night in Belton. The Cru improved to 14-2 overall and 6-1 in American Southwest Conference action while the War Hawks fell to 8-9 on the season and 3-4 in ASC play. 

UMHB opened scoring in the second inning with a Riley Bender RBI double to drive in Rhett Grosz. McMurry threatened in the top of the second, but a big throw from Kaden deBerardinis in center field to Carson Riley at home helped the Cru escape unscathed. 

UMHB continued scoring in the fourth with a Bender single to third to score Weston Dean. Blake Gonzalez followed that with a sacrifice flyout to bring deBerardinis home. Tyler Betts added the final run of the frame with a single to score Bender, going ahead 4-0. 

The War Hawks lessened the gap in the next frame with a single to right field. McMurry followed that with an RBI groundout in the sixth to bring the contest within two. 

The Cru responded with an explosive bottom of the sixth, adding four runs to go ahead 8-4. Gonzalez and Tyler Betts got in scoring position with back-to-back doubles. On the next play, a Cameron Talburt bunt scored Gonzalez. Carson Hagan walked in the next at-bat followed by a Grosz single to right field to score Talburt and Betts. Hagan added the final run of the inning, scoring on a deBerardinis sacrifice flyout. 

McMurry continued to chip away in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to right field. UMHB held the War Hawks through two more innings to take the 8-3 victory. 

James McGlumphy (3-0) claimed the win for the Cru, pitching six innings with just two runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts. Quint Mullen and Cameron Bogan also made mound appearances for UMHB. The Cru recorded 13 hits on the night, led by Betts and Grosz with three each. 

UMHB returns to action Saturday, March 16th in a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader against McMurry University to close the three-game series in Belton.