Senior right-handed pitcher Madison Lachney set the tone in game one, as he tossed his second complete game shutout in his last three starts and his sixth complete game overall to lead the nation.
Lachney and Cruader starter Nicholas Bergmann went head-to-head for the first four innings until the Wildcats exploded for seven runs on five hits and two UMHB error in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In what reminded many in attendance of LC's 11 run inning just two weeks before against Texas-Tyler, the Wildcats scored six of their seven runs in the inning with two outs, including a trio of two RBI singles by pinch hitter Chaston LaCaze, shortstop Taylor Beavers, and left field Kade Van Norman.
The Cat would add their final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mark Riendeau led off the inning with a double and eventually came around to score on a fielding error by Crusader third baseman Cole Hill.
The Crusaders used the long ball in game two to down the Wildcats 5-1, as all five of UMHB's runs came on home runs to take the win in the nightcap.
LC jumped out on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Van Norman led off the inning with a single to right field and came around to score three batters later on a Kyle Feazell RBI single to right field.
That was the last time the Wildcats would lead, however, as the Cru got a two-run home run in the third inning from Tyler Taute, a solo home run from Cole Hill in the fifth, and two-run home run in the top of the ninth from Zack Whiddon to put the game out of reach for LC.
Senior right-handed pitcher Brennan Russell, who was making his first collegiate start for the Wildcats, took the loss despite pitching extremely tough for 6 2/3 innings.
Russell gave up five hits, three earned runs, struck out four, and threw just 82 pitches over his 6 2/3 innings of work.
The doubleheader split brought LC's season record to 7-14 overall and 6-11 in ASC play. The two teams will square off in the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Cheatham Park in Alexandria, LA.