SB sweeps doubleheader from Howard Payne

03/21/08

Brownwood, TX - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team used a late rally to overcome a game-two deficit and the Cru went on to a doubleheader sweep of Howard Payne University Friday afternoon in Brownwood. UMHB took game one 5-0 and won game two 12-9. The Cru improves to 15-5 overall and 8-0 in American Southwest Conference play with the two victories. Howard Payne falls to 9-11 overall and 0-4 in the ASC after being swept in the four-game series.

The Cru used Kelsey Greeson's dominating pitching performance to post a 5-0 game one victory. Greeson scattered seven hits and struck out eight in a complete-game, shutout performance. She raised her record to 7-1 on the season with the win. Jenna Middleton took the loss for Howard Payne. The Cru took a 4-0 lead with a four-run first inning. Jessica Oliver and Charlsie Cope had RBI singles and Karen Fertitta doubled home two runs in the frame. UMHB added its final run on Megan Bohne's RBI double in the fifth. That was more than enough offense for Greeson. Greeson added three hits for UMHB and Becca Ribera, Bohne and Oliver had two hits apiece for the Cru.

UMHB then used a late rally to overcome Howard Payne's seven-run fourth inning to post a 12-9 victory in game two. The Cru scored three runs in the top of the first on RBI singles from Bohne and Oliver and Fertitta's RBI groundout. UMHB added four more in the top of the second with Fertitta's RBI single and Oliver's bases loaded walk highlighting the inning. HPU scored one in the third before using a seven-run fourth inning to take an 8-7 lead. The Cru retook the lead on Katina Penter's sacrifice fly and Erica Salazar's solo homer in the top of the fifth. The Cru then added three more in the sixth on RBI singles from Oliver, Fertitta and Lindsey Gordon. Ashley Edwards earned the win for UMHB to raise her record to 2-0. Oliver and Fertitta both had two hits and three RBI for the Cru in the victory.

The Cru will now have two weeks off before returning to action. UMHB will then host Schreiner University for a four-game ASC West Division series on April 4th and 5th.