HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team opened the 2025 season with a pair of wins at the University of St. Thomas. The Cru opened the season at 2-0 while the Celts opened at 0-2.
 
Allison Dafoe opened the first contest with back-to-back shutout innings. The Celts used six hits in the third to score four runs for the lead. UMHB did not back down, immediately responding with four runs in the next frame. Shorey Nguyen singled then reached second on a steal. Madeline Stephenson advanced the runner on a single to left field before Lindsey Polleschultz doubled to score Nguyen. Tori Skinner struck next, slamming a two-RBI double to center field to score Stephenson and Polleschultz before Bryton Wright scored Skinner with a single to center.
 
UMHB scored the go-ahead run in the sixth off a two-RBI double from Tori Skinner, scoring both Polleschultz and Stephenson. The Celts added one more run in the bottom of that frame but the Cru escaped with the 6-4 win. 

Tori Skinner went 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBI and one run scored. Polleschultz, Wright and Nguyen each added two hits while Polleschultz and Nguyen had two runs scored. 

Alli Dafoe and Ella Gamblin split time in the circle, giving up five earned runs with just one walk. UMHB totaled six runs on 16 hits with two errors while the Celts had five runs on 16 hits with two errors. 
 
Eileigh Whyte opened the game with a perfect inning in the circle and allowed just one hit in the second. She pitched another shutout frame in the third before the Cru put up single-run innings in the fourth and fifth for a lead. Kyler Sanders doubled to score Taylor Henken, who got on with a walk and stole second for a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Tori Skinner added a solo home run in the fifth for a 2-0 margin.
 
St. Thomas added one run in the sixth but the Celts weren't able to catch up, giving UMHB the 2-1 win. Henken led the Cru with two hits while Skinner, Sanders and Shorey Nguyen each added one. UMHB totaled two runs on five hits in the contest.
 
Whyte earned the win in the circle for the Cru, giving up just one earned run with two strikeouts in the full seven-inning contest.
 
UMHB returns to action on Tuesday, February 11^th in the 2025 home opener against Southwestern University. The Cru will take on the Pirates in a 6 p.m. contest at Dee Dillon Field in Belton.