(April 11, 2009)--The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team broke open both games early and the Cru coasted to a doubleheader sweep of Sul Ross State Friday afternoon in Alpine. UMHB took game one 10-0 and won game two 12-4. Both games ended early on the run-rule. The Cru improves to 21-5 overall and 14-0 in American Southwest Conference West Division play with the two victories. The two losses drop Sul Ross State to 2-26 overall and 1-17 in the ASC West Division.

UMHB used a seven-run third inning to break game one open on the way to a 10-0 victory. Jessica Oliver singled home a run and the Cru scored another on a passed ball to make it 2-0 in the top of the second inning. The Cru then erupted for seven more in the third frame. Lindsey Gordon singled home the first two runs, Charlsie Cope added an RBI single and later stole home, Katina Penter added an RBI single and Kacie Kripner singled home the final two runs of the inning. The Cru added its final run on Sara Roman’s sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning. Kelsey Greeson and Ashley Edwards combined on a one-hitter for UMHB with Greeson raising her record to 10-1. The Cru had just five hits in the game, but Sul Ross pitchers walked eight and hit three more batters. Oliver had two of UMHB’s five hits. Kassie Fuller’s infield single in the bottom of the second was the only hit of the game for the Lobos.

UMHB used another seven-run inning to take control of game two on the way to a 12-4 run-rule victory. Sul Ross took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first before the Cru exploded in the top of the second. Cope, Sara Roman and Becca Ribera singled home runs and Kripner added a grand slam home run to cap the inning. The Lobos scored three in the bottom of the second to cut it to 7-4. UMHB scored three in the fourth on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and Erica Salazar’s two-run single. The Cru then added two more on Megan Bohne’s RBI single and an error in the top of the fifth inning. Daphne Kahlig and Edwards combined for a five-hitter with Kahlig moving her record to 8-2. Kripner was 2-4 with the home run and a double. The double was the 53rd of her career and Kripner tied the ASC career record for doubles held by Christy Shipley-Gipson of East Texas Baptist. Ribera, Bohne and Cope also added two hits apiece for UMHB.

The two teams will close out the series with an 11:00 AM doubleheader tomorrow. The Cru will then return home to host Texas Lutheran University for a four-game ASC West Division series next weekend.