MARSHALL, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team dropped game one of the 2025 American Southwest Conference Baseball Tournament to LeTourneau University Thursday evening. With this loss, the Cru falls to 24-17 on the season, while the YellowJackets improve to 22-18. 

Shane Melick opened the game with a two-run homerun, scoring Riley Bender who got on with a single in the previous at-bat, taking an early 2-0 lead. The YellowJackets responded quickly in the bottom of the frame, putting up 11 runs on seven hits. Cameron Talburt responded with the Cru's second two-run home run of the game, scoring Austin Birkhoff to move the score to 11-4 in the top of the second inning. Through six innings, the YellowJackets tacked on seven more runs, extending their lead 18-4. 

Tyler Betts led off the top of the seventh inning with a single through the right side, followed by a Carson Hagan double to right field. Easton Cline hit a two RBI double, scoring Betts and Hagan to chip into LeTourneau's lead. The Cru then added another run on a double from Alejandro Sanchez III scoring Cline. Jasson Hemmerling, Jr. pushed Shane Melick across the plate on a single up the middle after Melick reached on a walk, making it an 18-9 ballgame. UMHB was unable to complete the rally, giving up one more run in the bottom of the seventh to drop the game 19-9.

Cameron Talburt led the Cru offensively going two-for-four at the plate with a homerun and a double along with two RBI. Jasson Hemmerling, Jr. and Alejandro Sanchez III each went two-for-four, while six other Crusaders added one hit each.

This loss takes UMHB to the elimination bracket where they will play either Hardin-Simmons or East Texas Baptist on Friday, May 2nd at 11:00am.