BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team jumped to a first-inning lead but fell victim to a late offensive surge from LeTourneau University, dropping a 12-7 decision to the YellowJackets. The Cru fell to 13-8 overall with a 1-3 mark in American Southwest Conference action while the YellowJackets opened conference play at 3-1 with an 11-12 overall record.
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UMHB jumped to an early lead with a two-RBI double from
Riley Bender, scoring
Cameron Talburt and
Carson Hagan in the first. LeTourneau responded in the top of the second, scoring three runs off four hits. The YellowJackets tacked on one more in the third before UMHB cut the gap with a run in the fifth when
Cameron Talburt scored on a stolen base.
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Reid Cromie threw shutout frames in the sixth and seventh to keep the gap at one before Isaac Price hit a home run in the eighth, scoring two runs for a 6-3 lead. LeTourneau added two more runs in the frame, extending the margin to 8-3.
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Easton Cline drove in a run with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, scoring
Riley Bender who reached on a walk. The YellowJackets extended their lead in the ninth, scoring four more runs.
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UMHB did not go down easily.
Carson Hagan opened the ninth with a double before Talburt walked. After a strikeout, Bender singled to score Hagan.
Shane Melick followed, reaching on an error to advance runners before
Exavier Mendez reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Talburt for a 12-6 score. Trae Deck followed with a single to left, scoring Melick but an out at third base ended the contest with a 12-7 LeTourneau win.
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Bender, Melick and Cline led the Cru with two hits each while Talburt had a team-high three runs and Bender recorded three RBI. UMHB threw five pitchers in the contest with
Bryce Farlander and
Reid Cromie each allowing a committee-low one hit.
Mason Semmelmann and Farlander both threw shutout appearances with Farlander leading the Cru with two strikeouts.
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UMHB returns to action in a four-game series against Hardin-Simmons University at Red Murff Field in Belton.
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