MARSHALL, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team dropped the first two American Southwest Conference games of the season to the number one ranked East Texas Baptist University Saturday afternoon in Marshall. The losses open the Cru's league record to 0-2 with an overall mark of 13-7. The Tigers open at 2-0 in conference with a 20-2 record on the season.
 
ETBU opened the scoring in game one with an early solo homerun to begin the second inning, giving them a 1-0 lead. UMHB starting pitcher Eileigh Whyte and her defense were able to get out of the inning with no more damage done, sitting down the next three batters. The Tigers added two more in the third inning with another solo homerun and an RBI single, moving the score to 3-0. ETBU threatened another homerun in the bottom of the fourth, but Vic Shimabukuro made an outstanding catch at the wall to keep the Tigers from adding two. After a scoreless fourth and fifth inning, ETBU added one more solo shot to left field in the sixth. This was followed by a two-RBI single, securing the Tigers' 6-0 win.
 
Madeline Stephenson led the Cru offensively going two for three at the plate. Bryton Wright and Taylor Henken each added a hit of their own. Eiliegh Whyte took the loss for UMHB, pitching six complete innings giving up 10 hits and four earned runs.
 
The Cru began game two with an early 1-0 lead in the first after Lindsey Polleschultz reached on a single and stole second. Shorey Nguyen followed, getting on first after a Tiger error.  Both Polleschultz and Nguyen stole a base to get into scoring position. Bailey Frenzel got up to the plate and soared a single up the middle to score Polleschultz. ETBU used the second inning to respond, scoring two runs on one hit. Jordan Iverson drove in the equalizing run for the Cru on an RBI single to score Polleschultz in the top of the third inning, making it a 2-2 ball game. The Tigers answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring one to move the score to 3-2, extending their lead in the sixth with a homerun to make it 4-2. This rounded out the scoring for the day, giving the Tigers the game two win.
 
Lindsey Polleschultz was the leading Crusader with two hits in three at-bats, scoring two runs, along with three stolen bases. Bailey Frenzel and Jordan Iverson each tallied one hit and one RBI. The Cru tallied five hits and five stolen bases. Chloee Miller pitched a complete game for UMHB only allowing five hits with two strikeouts.
 
UMHB returns to action at home on Wednesday, March 26^th in a 2:00pm doubleheader against McMurry University.