SEGUIN, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team opened the 2026 season with a pair of contests at No. 8 Texas Lutheran Friday afternoon in Seguin.
 
Texas Lutheran opened the contest with solo-run frames in the first and second innings before the Cru shut them out in the third. The Bulldogs answered, adding two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth and sixth for the 6-0 run. TLU totaled six runs on 11 hits with one error in the matchup.
 
The Bulldogs started game two with a one-run lead in the second inning and followed with three third-inning runs for a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs tacked on two more in the fourth, extending the lead to six runs. UMHB answered with three runs in the fifth inning. Addy Todd walked then advanced to second off a single from Riley Marek. Ava Jolley then doubled, scoring Todd for the Cru's first run. Sara Pelache singled to score Marek for the second run before a sacrifice fly from Angelina Rodriguez scored Jolley.
 
Texas Lutheran added one run in the bottom of the sixth before an inside-the-park home run off an injury scored four more to end the game in an 11-3 TLU lead.
 
Riley Marek, Ava Jolley and Sara Pelache all recorded hits while Jolley, Pelache and Rodriguez each added an RBI. UMHB totaled three runs on three hits while the Bulldogs had eight runs on 11 hits.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, February 7^th in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Schreiner University in Kerrville.