BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Softball team swept a doubleheader against UT Dallas Friday evening in Belton. The Cru improved to 15-12 on the season and 9-8 in American Southwest Conference action while the Comets fell to 15-13 overall and 6-8 in ASC play.
UMHB opened game one with a three up, three down first inning with Eileigh Whyte in the circle. A Bailey Frenzel RBI single to score Lindsey Polleschultz and Shorey Nguyen brought the Cru up 2-0 in the bottom of the first.
The Cru defense continued to hold the Comets with perfect innings in the third through sixth frames. UMHB's performance was highlighted in the fourth inning with back-to-back infield line outs from Allyse Castillo and Madeline Stephenson followed by a diving catch in centerfield from Taylor Henken.
The Comets fought back in the seventh inning, scoring on an RBI single to centerfield. UMHB held UTD to one run with a final pop-up out for the 2-1 win.
Whyte (10-5) earned the win for the Cru, pitching all seven innings with just one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts. UMHB totaled five hits, led by Frenzel with two hits and two RBI.
The Comets were first to score in game two with an RBI single in the top of the second. UTD continued scoring adding five runs in the top of the third inning to go ahead 6-0.
UMHB got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded RBI single from Tori Skinner to drive Stephenson home. A Lindsey Polleschultz two RBI single two scored Henken and Castillo to cut the gap 6-3 before Bailey Frenzel tied it up 6-6 with a three-run homerun.
The Cru held the Comets in the top of the seventh, going three-up, three-down with Ella Gamblin in the circle. Polleschultz got hitting started in the bottom of the frame with a single to left field before Nguyen reached on a fielder's choice and stole second to get in scoring position. Frenzel took a walk followed by a single from Bryton Wright to load the bases. In the next at bat, Stephenson singled to the shortstop to drive in Nguyen for the walk off 7-6 win.
Gamblin earned her first win of the season, throwing 4.2 innings with just three hits and no runs. Chloee Mason and Reese Albrecht also made appearances for the Cru. UMHB recorded 10 hits, led by Polleschultz with two hits and two RBI.
UMHB returns to action on April 13th in a 12:00 p.m. contest against UT Dallas to close the three-game series. Tomorrow's contest will also be the Cru's Strikeout Cancer game where they will honor alum Emily Bounds and those who have fought and are fighting cancer.
