ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team dropped a pair of 3-2 decisions to McMurry University Friday evening in Abilene. The Cru fell to 4-6 overall and opened American Southwest Conference action at 0-2. 

UMHB was first to score in game one with an RBI single from Bailey Frenzel, scoring Taylor Henken. McMurry scored the equalizer in the bottom of the frame on a home run to right field before taking the lead 2-1 with a second homer in the third frame. 

The Cru knotted up the contest in the next inning, scoring Shorey Nguyen off an RBI double from Bailey Eggleston. The War Hawks quickly responded with Miranda Soileau scoring on an error in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-2 McMurry lead. McMurry held off the Cru offense in the final three innings to keep the 3-2 win. 

Frenzel led the Cru with two hits as the Cru totaled seven in the contest. Eileigh Whyte took the loss for the UMHB. Whyte pitched six innings with five hits and three runs allowed. UMHB totaled two runs on seven hits with one error while the War Hawks had three runs on five hits with one error. 

McMurry took a quick lead in the second game, scoring a trio of first-inning runs for a 3-0 lead. UMHB put runners on base in the second, third and fourth innings but the War Hawk defense eliminated each scoring threat to keep the 3-0 margin.  

UMHB mounted a comeback in the seventh inning. Bralyn Belk doubled to score Chloe Cox before Kaitlin Powers scored Belk to cut the gap to one run. McMurry thwarted the Cru's final attempt at an equalizer to earn another 3-2 win. 

Belk led the Cru with two hits while four other Crusaders each added one. Chloee Mason took the loss for the UMHB, throwing six innings with three runs and five strikeouts. UMHB totaled two runs on six hits with one error while the War Hawks had three runs on eight hits. 

UMHB returns to action on Saturday, March 9th in a 12 p.m. single game against the War Hawks in Abilene.