ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball completed the 2-1 series win over Hardin-Simmons University with a 9-3 victory Saturday afternoon in Abilene. The Cru improved to 13-12 on the season and 7-8 in American Southwest Conference action while the Cowgirls fell to 20-5 overall and 9-3 in ASC play.

Hardin-Simmons was first on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. The Cru scored the equalizer with a home run from Bryton Wright in the top of the fourth. 

UMHB extended the margin to four with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Bryton Wright got scoring started with an RBI double to drive Kaitlin Powers home before Bralyn Belk singled to shortstop to score Kylie Green. Kyler Sanders used a single up the middle to bring home Taylor Henken and Madeline Stephenson to go ahead 5-1. 

The Cru followed that with another explosive inning in the top of the seventh. Lindsey Polleschultz slammed an RBI single through the left side to score Henken followed by a Gabriella Vela RBI single to bring in Belk. Bailey Frenzel used a single down the left field line to score Polleschultz and Tori Skinner for the 9-1 lead. 

Hardin-Simmons fought back in the final frame with an RBI double to cut the gap to 9-3, but could not overcome the deficit, giving UMHB the road win. 

Eileigh Whyte earned the win for UMHB, pitching a complete game while allowing three runs on six hits. The Cru totaled 14 hits, led by Polleschultz and Frenzel with three hits each. 

UMHB returns to action Friday, April 12th in a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader against UT Dallas in Belton.