BELTON, Texas — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball swept a Tuesday doubleheader with No. 10 University of St. Thomas (Texas), earning a 3-1 and 2-1 win over the Celts. UST moved to 24-7 on the day while the Cru advanced to 15-15.
 
After five scoreless innings on both sides of the field, the Cru broke it open when Vic Shimabukuro led off the sixth with an infield single, advancing to second on a throwing error. Ava Jolley pushed Shimabukuro across the plate with an infield single, followed by a Bralyn Belk double to score Jolley. Jordan Iverson added an RBI single up the middle to give the Cru a 3-0 lead. The Celts responded with one in the seventh, but Chloe Booth sealed the 3-1 win for UMHB with a game-ending strikeout.
 
Vic Shimabukuro led the Cru offensively with two hits and one run scored. Three other Crusaders tallied a hit and an RBI each. Chloe Booth earned the win in circle, pitching a complete game with four strikeouts, giving up just three hits and one earned run.
 
UMHB took an early lead in game two, scoring Shorey Nguyen on an error. Beth Ann Johnston threw a perfect frame in the second and allowed just one base runner in the third. The Celts threatened in the fourth but Kathryn Neal entered the circle and got out of the jam.
 
Sabrina Morgan stole home in the bottom of the fourth for a two-run lead as the Cru allowed just one base runner in the next two innings. The Celts threatened again in the seventh but a throw to home eliminated the threat. St. Thomas plated one run in the frame but the Cru held on for the 2-1 win.
 
Nguyen, Ava Jolley and Ryleigh Mills each tallied two hits while Nguyen and Morgan scored the Cru's runs. Beth Ann Johnston threw three innings with four hits allowed while Kathryn Neal gave up just one run and three hits in four innings of work. UMHB totaled two runs on eight hits while the Celts had one run on even hits.
 
UMHB returns to action at Dee Dillon Field on Friday, April 10^th in a 4:00pm doubleheader against Hardin-Simmons University.