Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team scratched across runs in the sixth and eighth innings to erase an early deficit and clutch Cru relief pitching made it stand up in a 4-3 victory over Sul Ross State Friday night in Belton. UMHB improves to 3-6 overall and 3-4 in American Southwest Conference play with the win. The loss drops the Lobos to 5-9 overall and 1-3 in the ASC on the season.
Sul Ross State grabbed a 2-0 lead on RBI doubles from Connor Griffith and Chris York in the top of the third inning. UMHB tied it on Zack Whiddon's RBI grounder and a throwing error in the bottom of that frame. The Lobos retook the lead on Eli Gallego's RBI single in the top of the fifth, but the Cru tied the game on Justin Dingman's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. UMHB loaded the bases on a hit batter, an infield single and a walk in the bottom of the eighth. Riley Davis blooped a single over shortstop scoring Whiddon with the go-ahead run, but the Cru left the bases loaded in the bid for some insurance runs. K.J. Stark came on to pitch the ninth and set the Lobos down after a two-out walk put the tying run on base to earn his first save of the season.
Nick Hayman earned his first collegiate win to move to 1-0 on UMHB. Hayman scattered two hits and struck out two batters in three and two-thirds innings of relief work. Aaron Barteau struck out 10 and allowed just two earned run in four and a third innings as the starter for the Cru. Whiddon and Rob Loewe had two apiece for the Cru. Justin Vajgert took the loss for the Lobos to drop to 1-4. He struck out seven, walked four and allowed six hits in eight innings. York had two hits for Sul Ross State, but Lobo hitters struck out 13 times in the game.
The two teams will close out the series with a noon doubleheader at Red Murff Field on Saturday. The Cru will then continue its home stand with a 6:00 PM non-conference game against Southwestern University next Tuesday.