MARSHALL, Texas — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team earned a 10-5 decision over Hardin-Simmons University in game one of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament.
Cameron Talburt led off the tournament opener with a stand-up double to center, scoring on the next play when Easton Cline hit an RBI single to left. Hardin-Simmons knotted the game at one in the bottom of the first inning, later taking a 5-1 lead in the third after scoring four runs on four hits.
The Cru cut the Cowboys' deficit to one in the top of the sixth. After back-to-back walks, Tyler Martin scored on a bases-loaded balk to begin the scoring streak. Austin Birkhoff then plated Jacob Newland on an RBI single, later scoring on an Easton Cline sacrifice fly. UMHB tied the contest at five in the top of the eighth when Nolan Williams doubled to left, scoring Talburt, who reached previously on a single.
Tyler Martin hit a lead-off single to open the ninth, scoring on the next at-bat when the Cowboys committed an error on a Newland fielder's choice. Newland then scored on a Chris Perez squeeze bunt, giving the Cru a 7-5 lead. Another Hardin-Simmons error pushed Perez across the plate before a two-RBI single from Williams scored two more, extending the Cru's lead to 10-5. UMHB held the Cowboys scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, securing the 10-5 victory.
Cameron Talburt and Easton Cline each added three hits in five at-bats, adding a double apiece. Cline put up two RBI while Talburt tallied three runs scored. Nolan Williams added two hits in the contest with a double and three RBI.
UMHB returns to action in the ASC Tournament on Friday, May 1st, in a 3:00pm matchup against the winner of East Texas Baptist and Howard Payne.
