SB sweeps Hardin-Simmons

04/25/08

Abilene, TX- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team grabbed the lead early in both games and the Cru rolled to a doubleheader sweep of Hardin-Simmons University Friday afternoon in Abilene. UMHB won game one 6-0 and took game two 11-0 on the run rule. The Cru improves to 29-5 overall and 22-0 in American Southwest Conference West Division play with the two victories. UMHB has also won 22 straight games. Hardin-Simmons falls to 16-16 overall and 10-12 in the ASC West with the two losses.

The Cru used three different two-run innings and a dominating pitching performance from Kelsey Greeson to coast to a 6-0 game one win. Katina Penter doubled home the game's first run in the top of the second and Sara Roman added an RBI single later in the inning. Lindsey Gordon singled home two runs in the third to make it 4-0 Cru. Kacie Kripner then tripled home a run and scored on Greeson's groundout in the sixth to provide the final margin. Greeson scattered three hits in a shutout performance, striking out five and walking three to improve to 14-1 on the season. Roman and Penter had three hits apiece for UMHB and Jessica Oliver added two hits.

The Cru broke open game two with nine runs in the second and third innings to cruise to an 11-0 win. UMHB scored four in the second. Two runs scored on wild pitches, Erica Salazar singled home a run and Penter added an RBI groundout. The Cru then added five more in the third, highlighted by Penter's grand slam. Oliver doubled home a run in the fourth and the final UMHB run scored on an error in the top of the fifth. Salazar had three hits for the Cru and Kripner and Oliver added two hits apiece. Daphne Kahlig scattered two hits over four innings to raise her record to 11-2 for UMHB.

The two teams will close out the series with a 12:00 PM doubleheader tomorrow. UMHB will then close out the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader at Houston-Victoria on Tuesday. The Cru has already clinched the West Division title and a #1 seed in next weekend's ASC Championship Tournament. UMHB can also become the first team to go undefeated in ASC West Division play since the Division expanded to seven teams.