BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team used a power inning in the fourth to surge ahead to a 10-3 win over Southwestern University Wednesday evening in Belton. The win improved the Cru to 3-0 while the Pirates fell to 0-5 on the season.
Chloee Miller opened the game with a perfect inning and allowed just one hit in the second. UMHB held the bases empty in the third and scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of that frame.
Lindsey Polleschultz reached on a hit, stole second then advanced to third on a passed ball.
Tori Skinner hit her in off a sacrifice fly to centerfield for the 1-0 score.
Southwestern responded with three runs on a trio of hits in the top of the fourth inning but the Cru answered, scoring seven runs in the bottom of that frame.
Bailey Frenzel opened with a walk then advanced to second on a single from
Madeline Stephenson.
Taylor Henken advanced both runners on a bunt single before
Kyler Sanders earned a walk to score Frenzel.
Gabriela Vela followed with a two-RBI single, scoring Henken and Stephenson before
Lindsey Polleschultz singled to score Sanders.
Bryton Wright added two more runs off a sac fly to centerfield, scoring Polleschultz and Nguyen before
Tori Skinner scored on a wild pitch to put the Cru up 8-3 after four.
The Cru added two more runs in the fifth, scoring Vela and Nguyen off a pair of errors. Southwestern threatened in the top of the seventh, but
Bryton Wright got out of the jam to complete the 10-3 victory for the Cru.
Polleschultz, Wright and Vela led the Cru with two hits each while three other Crusaders each added one. Wright and Vela each led the Cru with two RBI while Polleschultz and Nguyen both scored a team-high two runs.
Chloee Miller pitched three complete innings with four hits and three runs allowed.
Bryton Wright pitched in relief, throwing four shutout innings with just two hits allowed. The Cru pitchers combined for seven strikeouts in the contest.
UMHB returns to action on Tuesday, February 18
th in a 6 p.m. contest at Southwestern University in Georgetown.