(May 2, 2008)--The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team used Kelsey Greeson's dominating pitching performance and a seventh-inning bases-loaded walk to post a 3-2 victory over U.T.-Tyler in a winner's bracket game at the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament Friday morning in Irving. UMHB improves to 32-7 on the year with the victory and advances in the winner's bracket. U.T.-Tyler drops to 36-6 and falls into the loser's bracket following the loss.

The two teams were locked up in a scoreless pitcher's duel until the fourth inning. Singles by Kacie Kripner and Greeson, sandwiched around a walk to Megan Bohne loaded the bases. Jessica Oliver then hit a sacrifice fly and Charlsie Cope added an RBI single to give UMHB a 2-0 lead. The Cru loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth, but a line-drive double-play ended the threat. After a one-out walk in the top of the sixth, Amanda Busby ripped a two-run homer for UTT to break-up Greeson's no-hitter and shutout and tie the game at two. It would stay that way into the bottom of the seventh. After a strikeout, Kripner doubled to right center, Bohne followed with a single and Greeson drew a walk to load the bases. Oliver then stayed alive through a 12-pitch at-bat, fouling off several pitchers before drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Kripner with the game-winning run.

Greeson threw a complete-game one-hitter, striking out seven and walking three to raise her record to 16-2. Greeson tied the UMHB single-season record for pitching victories, held by current Cru head coach Kasey Blomquist in the process. Loren Parks took the loss for UTT to drop to 8-1 on the year. Kripner, Greeson and Cope had two hits apiece for the Cru in the victory.

UMHB now advances to take on Louisiana College in a 5:00 PM winner's bracket game in the double elimination tournament. You can listen to that game on the Internet by following the Athletics Live link from the UMHB athletic department web site at www.umhb.edu/athletics.