BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team lost two games to LeTourneau University Saturday in Belton. These losses move the Cru's overall record to 13-7 with a 1-2 mark in American Southwest Conference play, while the YellowJackets improve to 10-12 on the season and 2-1 in league play.
The Cru earned an early lead in game one, scoring five in the first inning. The run streak started with a three-run homerun from
Shane Melick, scoring
Tyler Betts and
Riley Bender, who reached on an error and a walk, respectively.
Jordan Fernandez followed with a double to left field.
Trae Deck III reached on an error, advancing to second, and scoring Fernandez. The final run of the inning was off an RBI single from
Alejandro Sanchez III to push Deck across the plate. The following inning, UMHB put up two more runs when
Carson Hagan scored on a wild pitch, followed by a sacrifice fly from
Riley Bender to score
Cameron Talburt. The YellowJackets chipped into the lead with two runs in the top of the third, making it a 7-2 game. This score held until the top of the fifth when LeTourneau added two more runs on a homerun.
The YellowJackets had a big inning in the sixth, taking the lead 11-7 off seven hits. The Cru then responded in the bottom of the frame, pushing seven runs across the plate, reclaiming the lead 14-11. The top of the order started the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases. With Hagan, Talburt and Betts on base,
Shane Melick and
Jordan Fernandez followed drawing back-to-back walks, scoring two runs. A bases-clearing double from
Trae Deck III and an
Alejandro Sanchez III single scored the final two runs of the frame. LeTourneau turned around and added four more runs on two hits, taking the 15-14 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Melick didn't take no for an answer and slammed his second homerun of the day to tie the game at 15. After a scoreless eighth inning, the YellowJackets earned the 16-15 win on a sacrifice fly.
Shane Melick was the leading Crusader going three for four at the plate with two homeruns, five RBI, and two runs scored.
Trae Deck III added two hits and four RBI, while
Alejandro Sanchez III tallied two hits and two RBI.
James McGlumphy earned the start for UMHB going 5.1 innings with two strikeouts.
Jacob Haynes closed with 2.0 innings, only giving up one hit.
LeTourneau got on the board in the second inning of game two with three runs. They scored again in the third and sixth frames with the Cru unable to respond. The YellowJackets took the 5-0 win to end the day.
UMHB returns to action at home Sunday, March 30
th in a 2:00pm contest against LeTourneau University to close out the series.