BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team defeated Concordia University Texas 11-2 Wednesday night in Belton. The win improves the Crusaders overall record to 11-5 while the Tornados fall to 17-6 on the season.
 
Shane Melick opened the scoring in the first inning with a single up the middle to score Cameron Talburt who got on with a fielder's choice, giving the Cru a quick 1-0 lead. The Tornados attempted to respond in the next inning putting two runners in scoring position, but Kolby McBee worked out of the jam to hold Concordia scoreless. UMHB went on to put up five more runs in the bottom of the third. Tyler Betts opened the inning with a walk, followed by back-to-back doubles from Riley Bender and Shane Melick. Melick earned two more RBI, scoring Betts and Bender. Easton Cline later doubled to right center, pushing Jasson , Jr. and Melick across the plate earning two RBI. Cline was hit in by a Carson Hagan single to give the Cru a 6-0 lead.
 
The Tornados cut into the UMHB lead in the top of the fourth with one run off a fielder's choice. The Cru extended the lead in the fifth inning when Easton Cline added an RBI single, scoring Alejandro Sanchez III. Carson Hagan came to the plate with runners on second in third, soaring a three-run homerun over the right field fence, making it a 10-1 game. The Tornados added one more run in the sixth, but the Crusaders matched that with one more in the seventh when Cline scored on a Jordan Fernandez at-bat. Reid Cromie closed out the ninth inning on the mound with a three-up, three-down inning to secure 11-2 win.
 
Easton Cline went three for four on the night with three RBI and three runs scored. Carson Hagan led in RBI with four, going two for three at the plate with one homerun. Jordan Fernandez and Shane Melick each added two hits of their own.
 
Kolby McBee earned the win pitching six complete innings, only allowing two runs with three strikeouts. Alex Hill, JD Gerda, and Reid Cromie each made one inning appearances pitching a combined three hits, five strikeouts, with no runs earned.
 
UMHB returns to action in Houston on March 25^th at 6:00 PM to take on the University of St. Thomas (TX).