BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team split an extra-inning doubleheader with No. 23 East Texas Baptist Saturday in Belton, earning a 3-1 win in the series. The Cru improved to 24-16 on the season and 9-7 in American Southwest Conference play while the Tigers fell to 25-14 overall and 11-5 in league play. 

Riley Bender opened game one with a solo homerun over the left field wall to give the Cru an early 1-0 lead. UMHB added two more in the the third inning off two sacrifice flies from Shane Melick and Alejandro Sancez III, scoring Carson Hagan and Easton Cline to extend the lead to 3-0. The Tigers responded in the next inning adding two runs off two RBI singles, moving the game to 3-2. ETBU scored the equalizer in the top of the sixth frame off an RBI double. The Tigers threatened a scoring inning in the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but short stop Easton Cline turned an unassisted double play on a line drive to get out of the jam.

The game remained scoreless through the top of the ninth, highlighted by a big double play from reliever Jacob Haynes who laid out to catch a popped up bunt, getting the go-ahead runner out at first. The game remained tied 3-3 through nine, forcing extra innings of play. In the top of the tenth, the Tigers took their first lead of the game on an RBI single. The Cru was unable to respond, securing the 3-2 win for the Tigers.

Jesse Hemmerling and Austin Birkhoff each went two-for-four in game one with four other Crusaders adding a hit. Easton Cline had two stolen bases, with Alejandro Sanchez III and Jesse Hemmerling each adding one of their own. Blake Long opened the game for the Cru on the mound throwing four complete innings with a strikeout, giving up just one hit and no runs. Reid Cromie went two innings, giving up five hits and three runs. Jacob Haynes closed it out with four full innings, giving up one run and five hits with three strikeouts. 

The Cru struck first again in game two when Carson Hagan got on with a lead-off double to left center, later stealing third. Shane Melick pushed Hagan across the plate on a sacrifice fly to earn the 1-0 lead. Jasson Hemmerling Jr. earned an RBI single, scoring Cameron Talburt who reached on a hit-by-pitch. Tyler Betts and Carson Hagan each reached on errors before Easton Cline laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Betts, taking the Cru to a 4-0 upperhand. ETBU responded in the top of the third with two runs on two hits, cutting the Cru lead in half at 4-2.

ETBU took over the lead in the top of the fifth frame with an RBI double, followed by a two-run homerun, moving the score to 5-4. The Tigers added one more in the sixth, making it a 6-4 ballgame. The Cru answered in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run inning to knot the game at six. John Van Huis started the rally with a double to center field, followed by a Tyler Betts RBI single to score Van Huis. The next two frames went scoreless, forcing another extra-inning match-up. The Tigers took the lead in the top of the tenth inning, 7-6. Carson Hagan opened the bottom of the tenth with an infield single to short stop. Austin Birkhoff followed with a double through the left side, putting him and Hagan in scoring position. Alejandro Sanchez III walked to load the bases, followed by another walk drawn by Cameron Talburt to score Hagan and knot the game back up at seven. Jasson Hemmerling, Jr. then singled to right field, scoring Birkhoff to walk it off 8-7. 

Carson Hagan led the Cru with three hits and two runs scored while Easton Cline and Cameron Talburt each added two RBI. UMHB scored eight runs on 10 hits with one error while the Tigers had seven runs on 11 hits with two errors. 

Drake Gaines started the game on the mound throwing 2.1 innings with two earned runs allowed. Nicklas Fenner and Preston Blake each made an appearance, while Mason Semmelmann pitched three shutout innings with four strikeouts. Isaac Brann earned the win on the mound, throwing one inning with one run allowed and one strikeout. 
 

This closes out regular season play for the Cru. UMHB will return to action in the American Southwest Conference Tournament May 1-3.