BELTON, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl softball team fell in both games of a doubleheader at the UMHB Cru, 4-3 and 8-3, on Friday in American Southwest Conference play.

Mason McCord skyed a ball out of left to score two for the Cowgirls in the third inning of game one to take the lead 2-0. The Cru answered with four of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it 4-2.

The Cowgirls had another run in the sixth from a Karis Hessert solo homerun, but that was all the Cowgirls could score and they fell 4-3 in game one.

Brittanie Henry had two hits out of the leadoff spot for the Cowgirls and so did McCord with two RBIs on the homerun.

Kaylen Washington started for the Cowgirls and had the loss. Kelly Shackelford came in relief and allowed one hit in the final three innings.

In game two, the Cru got a run in the first to lead early. The Cowgirls tied the game in the fourth thanks to a Kate Tovar RBI single, but the Cru responded with four runs in the bottom half to lead 5-1.

Tovar was not finished, however, and added a solo homerun in the top of the sixth to make it 5-2. Not to be outdone, Hessert followed Tovar with a second Cowgirl homerun, two in a row to make it 5-3 Cru.

The Cru added a three-run homer to ice the game in the sixth, and UMHB got the win 8-3.

Aubrianna Salazar started, and Haven Williams had the loss for Hardin-Simmons in game two. Brookelyn Casper came in and allowed no hits to finish the game for the Cowgirls with a strikeout.

Tovar and Hessert each had two hits for the Cowgirls with homeruns, and Tovar led with two RBIs.

The Cowgirls fall to 13-18 and 9-10 in the conference. UMHB improves to 21-12 and 15-8 in ASC play. The series wraps up tomorrow starting at 2 p.m. in Belton.

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