Story by Kaelin Earl
BROWNWOOD, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team split a Saturday doubleheader at Howard Payne University, earning an 8-3 win before falling 2-1 to the Yellow Jackets. UMHB moved to 20-20 on the season with a 5-7 record in American Southwest Conference play.
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The Cru started off scoring in the second inning when
Vic Shimabukuro hit a sacrifice fly to score
Ava Jolley. UMHB continued scoring in the top of the third inning, scoring
Ryleigh Mills off an RBI from
Addy Todd.
Ava Perlinger followed with a single, scoring two more runs for the Cru. UMHB tacked on three runs in the fourth with
Vic Shimabukuro scoring on an error and Iverson hitting in Mills and
Bralyn Belk with a single.
Shorey Nguyen added the Cru's final run in the seventh, hitting in
Addy Todd.
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The Yellow Jackets answered in the seventh with three runs scored, but the Cru held on for the 8-3 win.
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Ava Perlinger led the Cru with three hits, while
Shorey Nguyen and
Jordan Iverson added two each.
Jordan Iverson and
Ava Perlinger also led with two RBI.
Katherine Neal earned the win in game one, pitching five innings with three hits and zero runs allowed.
Ella Gamblin came in for a two-inning relief. UMHB totaled eight runs on 11 hits with one error. The Yellow Jackets ended with three runs on eight hits with three errors.
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UMHB started strong in the first inning of game two with
Shorey Nguyen scoring on an error. Howard Payne answered in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring one run in both innings for a 2-1 lead. Neither team scored again, ending the contest in a 2-1 Howard Payne win.
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Ava Perlinger led with two hits, while Iverson and Alewine had one each.
Chloe Booth took the loss in the circle, pitching all six innings. Booth allowed six hits and two runs in her outing. UMHB totaled one run on four hits with one error, while the Yellow Jackets ended with two runs on six hits and three errors.
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UMHB returns to action in the 2026 American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament May 7
th – 9
th.
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