BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split a Tuesday doubleheader at Concordia University Texas, winning 8-0 before falling 8-4 to the Tornados. UMHB moved to 13-5 on the season while the Tornados went to 15-9.
UMHB opened the contest with a single-run first inning, scoring Lindsey Polleschultz off a fielder's choice on a Bailey Frenzel at-bat. The Cru held that lead until the third when the Cru put up seven more runs to hold an 8-0 lead. Shorey Nguyen opened with a single then reached second on a fielder's choice. Tori Skinner singled to score Nguyen before Kylie Hoggatt scored Frenzel with a fielder's choice RBI. Vic Shimabukuro singled to advance Hoggatt then stole second to put runners on second and third. Madeline Stephenson scored Hoggatt from third with a single to left center then stole second. Taylor Henken scored Shimabukuro with a single up the middle then stole second to put runners on second and third again. Polleschultz singled to left, scoring Stephenson before Nguyen singled to center, scoring Henken for an 8-0 Cru lead.
UMHB gave up just two hits in the final two innings, holding onto the 8-0 margin for the run-rule victory. Four different Crusaders recorded two hits while eight Crusaders combined for runs and seven for RBI. Eileigh Whyte earned the win in the circle, throwing four innings with just two hits allowed. Beth Ann Johnston threw the final frame for the Cru, giving up just one hit. UMHB totaled eight runs on 11 hits with no errors while the Tornados had no runs on three hits with three errors.
Concordia Texas opened game two with a three-run first inning, scoring off a pair of RBI singles. The Tornados extended that lead to five in the second before Madeline Stephenson scored on a wild pitch in the third to cut the gap to four. The Tornados added another run off another RBI single in the fourth and two more runs in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead.
UMHB fought back in the sixth. Bailey Frenzel scored Shorey Nguyen with a single up the middle before Tori Skinner hit another single, scoring Kylie Hoggatt. The Cru added another run in the seventh off an RBI single from Kyler Sanders but The Tornados got out of the jam, ending the game in an 8-4 CTX victory.
Five different Crusaders combined for hits, led by Frenzel with two. Stephenson also scored a team-high two runs while three different Crusaders recorded RBI. Whyte took the loss, pitching one inning with three runs allowed. Chloee Miller threw 3.1 innings with five runs allowed while Ella Gamblin added 1.2 shutout innings in the circle. UMHB totaled four runs on six hits with two errors while the Tornados had eight runs on 15 hits with one error.
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, March 22nd in a 12 p.m. doubleheader against East Texas Baptist University in Marshall.
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