#CruWin | UMHB Softball moves into second place in the ASC with 8-0 shutout at Ozarks

Photo of UMHB starting pitcher Eileigh Whyte by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru

CLARKSVILLE, Ark.–Second place in the ASC standings is now in The Cru’s possession. It is quite the contrast from where they were five weeks ago, sitting at 2-7 in league play. 

UMHB completed its first ASC road series sweep of the season on Saturday at Ozarks, shutting out the Eagles, 8-0, for the Crusaders’ eighth-straight victory. The Cru is now 11-1 over its last four conference weekends.

The victory in the series finale also allowed UMHB to jump past Hardin-Simmons in the conference standings, as The Cru now holds a 13-8 record (.619 win percentage) in league play. HSU, who took two of three against LeTourneau this weekend, is 11-7 (.611 win percentage). 

Eileigh Whyte and Reese Albrecht combined for six solid innings in the circle, allowing just four hits as the Eagles stranded all eight of their baserunners in the contest. Whyte is now 13-5 overall this season, having earned the win in each of her last five starts. The transfer from Hill College holds a 2.17 ERA and struck out four batters in Saturday’s win. 

Bryton Wright stepped up for UMHB at the plate, giving The Cru a 3-0 first-inning lead on her third home run of the season. The sophomore, batting with one out and runners on second and third, took a pitch from Ozarks starter Allyson Fultz deep over the outfield wall, and UMHB led from that point on. 

It was one of three extra-base hits in the victory, as Lindsey Polleschultz and Shorey Nguyen each tallied doubles for UMHB. Polleschultz, who was 5-for-7 in Friday’s doubleheader, went 2-for-4 in the series finale, and Nguyen was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. 

After Bailey Eggleston’s RBI groundout in the fourth inning, UMHB pushed the contest into run-rule territory with a four-run sixth. Polleschultz and Nguyen’s doubles came back-to-back, each producing a run as The Cru went up 7-0. Bailey Frenzel’s two-out base hit scored Nguyen, giving UMHB an eight-run advantage. 

Albrecht sealed the run-rule victory in the bottom of the frame, as the Crusaders defeated Ozarks for the 18th straight time. 

Game Notes

• In what was the final regular season series between UMHB and Ozarks as conference opponents, with Ozarks departing for the SCAC next season, UMHB extended its control of the all-time series to 33-1. The Crusaders are 30-1 against the Eagles in ASC matchups. 
• UMHB has now scored 8 or more runs in five conference games this season, three of which have been on the road.
• The Crusaders totaled 10 hits in the victory, registering a double-digit hit total for the 11th time this year.
  • 7 different players had at least one hit in the win. Polleschultz, Nguyen, and Wright led the team with two apiece. 
• UMHB stole 7 bases, tying for the season-high in that category, which was set in Friday’s 9-3 win over Ozarks.
  • That number is tied for the second-most stolen bases in a single game in program history, and is the fourth time in the last two seasons that The Cru have tallied 7 stolen bases in a game. 
• With her home run in the first inning, Wright now leads the team in extra-base hits this season, with nine (six doubles, three homers). 

Up Next

UMHB returns to Belton for a three-game series against Sul Ross State on Friday and Saturday. SRSU is 14-18 overall and and 1-4 in its last five games. 

Read yesterday’s recap of UMHB Softball’s doubleheader sweep