BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split a Monday doubleheader with St. Olaf College, dropping a 3-1 decision before earning an 11-3 victory. UMHB moved to 10-10 on the season while the Oles fell to 5-3.
Beth Ann Johnston opened the game with a perfect frame in the first and allowed just one base runner in the second. Johnston threw another perfect inning in the third before the Oles put on a pair of base runners in the fourth. UMHB got out of that jam before St. Olaf plated three runs in the fifth, taking the lead.
The Oles threatened again in the sixth but
Ella Gamblin threw a runner out at home and pitched out of the jam to keep St. Olaf scoreless in that frame. UMHB loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but the Oles pitched around it, preserving the shutout.
Ryleigh Mills hit in
Shorey Nguyen in the bottom of the seventh to cut the gap to two but the Oles held on, sealing the 3-1 win.
Four different Crusaders recorded two hits each while Shimabukuro was the lone Crusader with an extra-base knock, hitting a triple to deep left field.
Beth Ann Johnston threw five innings with three runs and six hits allowed, striking out five batters.
Ella Gamblin threw the final two innings, giving up just two hits. UMHB totaled one run on 10 hits while the Oles had three runs on eight hits.
Ava Jolley opened game two with a three-RBI home run, followed by an RBI double from
Jordan Iverson for a four-run lead. Iverson later stole home, putting the Cru up by five after the first frame. The Oles responded in the second inning with two runs scored off an error but Jolley answered again, jump-starting a four-run second inning with an RBI single. Jolley,
Vic Shimabukuro, Iverson and
Ava Perlinger each hit an RBI single to plate four runs for a 9-2 lead.
Bralyn Belk and
Addy Todd both homered in the third inning for a nine-run margin. The Oles tacked on one more run in the fifth but UMHB sealed the run-rule victory with a strikeout.
Todd, Jolley, Shimabukuro and Iverson each tallied two hits while Jolley had a team-high four RBI.
Chloe Booth earned the win in the circle, throwing 3.2 innings with four hits and one run allowed. Booth struck out five of 15 batters faced. UMHB totaled 11 runs on 10 hits with one error while the Oles had three runs on seven hits.
UMHB returns to action on Tuesday, March 17th in a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Bethel University at Dee Dillon Field in Belton.
