MARSHALL, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl softball team defeated Mary Hardin-Baylor 5-2 in the first round of double-elimination in the 2025 American Southwest Conference championship tournament on Thursday hosted at ETBU.
 
The Cowgirls entered the tournament in the No. 2 overall seed facing UMHB in the first round. The Crusaders got on the board with a solo home run in the first inning, but the Cowgirls responded quickly to tie the game.
 
Haley Henson led off the Cowgirl first inning with a triple and Emily Jacobs had an RBI on a sac fly to tie the game at 1-1. Henson now owns the single season record for Cowgirl softball triples with seven in 2025.
 
The game glided through the next four innings with no score and a few scattered hits. The Cowgirls lost a runner in scoring position saying she left early on a stolen base with no outs.
 
Kristen McMillan led off the sixth inning with a double and the Cowgirls bunted her over for a chance to take the lead. Ella Salinas hit a single into right field to score the second Cowgirl run and take a 2-1 lead.
 
Lindsey Ratcliffe came to the plate with two on base and two outs and hit a three-run home run out of left field to get the Cowgirl lead up to 5-1 in the sixth inning. Hardin-Simmons held the lead and won 5-2 to advance over UMHB.
 
Gabby Montanez started the game and had the win with six plus innings thrown and gave up six hits and two runs with two strikeouts in the win. Akaysia Grogan came in for the last out with runners on and got the save.
 
The Cowgirls advance with a big win 5-2 and will face the winner of the LETU and ETBU game on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Marshall, Texas.
 
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