ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl softball team split an American Southwest Conference doubleheader with Mary Hardin-Baylor, winning 4-3 and falling 3-2 on Friday night at Ellis Field.
 
The Cowgirls willed their way to a win in game one with four runs on two hits offensively in the 4-3 win.
 
Haven Williams got the win after keeping UMHB off the scoreboard until the sixth inning. Kylie Ruiz fended off the Cru late with two strikeouts for the Cowgirls in the final inning and two-thirds with the save.
 
Emily Jacobs drove in the first Cowgirl run in the first inning with a sac fly and Madison Mayhew had a clutch pinch-hit double to plate two more to make it 3-0 in the fourth inning.
 
Kristen McMillan reached on an error and forced her way home on a bad throw to make it 4-0 Cowgirls in the fifth. The defense held for a 4-3 win over UMHB.
 
The runs were at a premium in game two with a complete game from Cowgirl freshman Jorey Hood.
 
Hood threw seven innings with just seven hits and had three strikeouts in the 3-2 loss.
 
Madi Hubbard had three hits to lead the Cowgirls in game two, including the first RBI on a single in the third inning.
 
Jazlynn Cantu had two doubles for the Cowgirls and Ella Salinas also had two hits in game two. Erin Love had the other RBI for the Cowgirls off the bench in the sixth inning.
 
The only UMHB runs came off a three-run home run in the seventh inning, Hood having only allowed three hits in the previous six innings.
 
The Cowgirls left eight runners on base and ended the game with one on third base in a 3-2 loss to the Cru in game two.
 
Hardin-Simmons goes to 20-4 on the season and 9-2 in the ASC while UMHB is now 12-12 and 6-8 in conference play. The rubber match between the Cowgirl and the Cru is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday at Ellis Field.
 
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