BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball defeated Howard Payne University 5-2 Saturday afternoon in Belton. The Cru improved to 8-8 on the season and 2-4 in American Southwest Conference action while the Yellow Jackets fell to 8-10 overall and 1-5 in ASC play. 

UMHB was first to score in the bottom of the first inning with a Taylor Henken run on an error. Eileigh Whyte followed that with a three-up, three-down second inning. 

After an hour long lightning delay the Cru opened play back up with a perfect inning in the top of the fourth.The Yellow Jackets tied up the game in the top of the fifth after Kayla Camacho got on base with a double then scored on a throwing error. Howard Payne took the 2-1 lead in the sixth on a throwing error. 

UMHB held the Yellow Jackets through the seventh, not allowing a base runner. The Cru started the bottom of the frame on a strong note with a double from lead-off Lindsey Polleschultz. Bailey Eggleston followed that with a walk before an Allyse Castillo single scored Polleschultz for the equalizer. With two outs on the board, Bailey Frenzel sealed the 5-2 win for the Cru with a walk off three-run homerun over the right field fence. 

Eileigh Whyte (6-3) earned the win for UMHB, pitching all seven innings with no earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Bree Cason took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, throwing 6.2 innings with four earned runs on six hits. The Cru recorded six hits, led by Allyse Castillo with two. 

UMHB returns to action Tuesday, March 19th in a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader against Texas Lutheran University in Belton.