BELTON, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team went one-and-one on the day against Webster University Friday afternoon. This moves the Cru's record to 2-3 on the season.
The Gorloks opened the game with a three-run first inning. The Cru earned one back in the bottom of the second after Chris Perez doubled to right field, followed by an RBI single from Tyler Martin to score Perez. Riley Bender and Nolan Williams each added a solo homerun in back-to-back innings to cut Webster's deficit to one in the bottom of the fourth.
UMHB tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth after Cameron Talburt hit a lead-off single to left. Jacob Newland followed with a single to right, along with an ensuing walk from Bender. Taylor McDaniel earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly, scoring Talburt to make it a 4-4 game. The Gorloks took back the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring one run on one hit. Webster extended the deficit in the top of the eighth, moving the score to 6-4. The Gorloks took the 7-4 victory after adding one more in the top of the ninth.
Jacob Newland led the Cru going three-for-five at the plate with a double. Riley Bender, Taylor McDaniel, and Nolan Williams each added an RBI. Ryan Rhea had the start on the mound, going six complete innings, adding three strikeouts. Zach Hampton was the closer, tallying one strikeout and giving up just one hit in 1.1 innings.
After a scoreless first inning, the Cru got on top early in the bottom of the second frame. Taylor McDaniel earned a lead-off walk and was followed by Nolan Williams who hit a single to left field. Chris Perez advanced McDaniel to third on a sacrifice bunt, who was then pushed across the plate with a bases-loaded hit by pitch drawn by Jasson Hemmerling Jr. Tyler Betts came up to the plate, scoring Williams on a fielder's choice, putting the Cru up 2-0. Starting pitcher Alex Hill kept the Gorloks scoreless with five strikeouts in three innings, with the Cru adding one more in the bottom of the third on a Williams RBI single.
UMHB had a big inning in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on three hits. Williams led off with a triple to right center, followed by a Perez double to left center, scoring Williams. After Easton Cline reached on a hit by pitch, Jasson Hemmerling Jr. added a sacrifice fly to score Perez. Cameron Talburt closed out scoring in the frame with a two RBI double, scoring Tyler Betts and Easton Cline.
Webster earned one in back in the top of the seventh with a solo homerun, taking the score to 7-1. The Cru got that run back in the bottom of the frame of another Hemmerling sacrifice fly to score Williams. Nolan Williams sealed the victory for the Cru in the bottom of the eighth with his fourth single to left, scoring Riley Bender and Taylor McDaniel to close out the 11-1 run-rule win.
Nolan Williams went five-for-five at the plate with four singles and a triple, adding three RBI and three runs scored. Cameron Talburt added two hits in four plate appearances with two RBI and a run scored, along with four stolen bases.
Alex Hill earned the win on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings, giving up just five hits with 10 strikeouts.
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, February 14th in a 1:00 PM matchup against Webster University at Red Murff Field.
