File photo of Lindsey Polleschultz by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru
CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas–It is the job of a team’s leadoff hitter to reach base at a high rate, setting up the power hitters in the middle of the order with RBI opportunities. Lindsey Polleschultz has done that at a high level for UMHB softball this season, and there was no better example, perhaps, than her stellar performance in both games of Friday’s doubleheader against Ozarks.
In situations where she led off an inning at the plate, the junior infielder from Cypress, Texas was 3-for-5. She opened both victories in Clarksville with base hits, scoring UMHB’s first run in each instance. And when it was all said and done, Polleschultz came through with five hits in her seven at-bats, scoring five runs, in addition to drawing a walk in Game 1.
She was unstoppable, and the only Crusader with multiple hits in both games of the doubleheader.
It certainly factored into The Cru’s overall success, as UMHB took the opener, 4-1, and followed with a 9-3 victory in the nightcap, clinching yet another series win. That’s four straight and a seven-game win streak to go along with it.
For a team that began the season 0-4 in true road games, the Crusaders seemed to be very much in rhythm on Friday, and now find themselves a half-game back of second-place Hardin-Simmons in the ASC standings. UMHB is 18-12 overall, 12-8 in league play, and 10-1 in its last 11 conference games.
With UMHB as the road team and batting first, Polleschultz set the tone immediately in Game 1. She singled through the left side of the infield, then promptly stole second base, the first of her five stolen bases on the day. Shorey Nguyen’s groundout moved her over to third, before Bailey Frenzel’s 27th RBI of the season—a sac fly to right field—allowed Polleschultz to tag and score for a 1-0 lead. A two-run second inning followed, and Frenzel sealed it with a seventh-inning RBI single to left field. Who scored from second base on the play? Polleschultz, who singled two at-bats prior.
Then came the 9-3 victory in Game 2. It started in virtually the same way. The only real difference? Polleschultz singled through the right side of the infield this time, as opposed to the left. She stole second once again, and Frenzel drove her in, on yet another sac fly.
It was a memorable day for Frenzel as well, especially in Game 2, as the first baseman went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. It tied her season-high in RBIs, matching a strong performance against Howard Payne on March 16.
All four RBIs came in the first four innings, three of which scored Polleschultz. After the first inning sac fly came a third-inning base hit that put The Cru back in front, 3-2, after Ozarks knotted the score at two apiece in the second inning. Then in the fourth, Frenzel came through with the second of UMHB’s two doubles in the win, and she did so with nobody out and both Polleschultz and Kylie Green in scoring position. The double down the left-field line brought both across the plate as UMHB further widened its advantage to 8-2.
The Crusaders scored at least one run in each of the game’s first four frames, including six between the third and fourth innings.
Game Notes
- UMHB stole seven bases in Game 2, which is tied for the second-most in a single game in program history. Lindsey Polleschultz swiped three, and Kylie Green, Bralyn Belk, Taylor Henken, and Shorey Nguyen each tallied one.
- Polleschultz and Henken each have 17 stolen bases this season. According to the UMHB record book, the duo is just three away from tying Danielle Thomas for the fourth-most stolen bases in a season in UMHB history. 22 is the program record, set by Linsey Tomlinson in 2018, and tied by Lexi Harris in 2023.
- Eileigh Whyte earned the win in the circle in Game 1, improving to 12-5 this season. She turned in yet another exceptional start, striking out six in five innings with just three hits and a run allowed.
- Ella Gamblin, a freshman from Celina, Texas, recorded her first collegiate save in the Game 1 win, firing two innings of scoreless relief.
- Gamblin has now pitched 7.0 innings in conference play this season, and has yet to surrender a run.
- Neither Whyte nor Gamblin walked a batter, marking the 14th game this season in which the Crusaders have not issued a walk.
- At 40 walks total as a pitching staff, UMHB has issued the fewest walks of any team in the ASC in 2024.
- Chloee Mason came through with a complete game in Game 2, and now holds a 5-6 record this season. Mason has now recorded five complete games in her first year with The Cru.
- UMHB currently holds the longest winning streak of any team in the ASC, at seven consecutive wins.
Up Next
UMHB heads into an 11 a.m. CT matchup against Ozarks in the series finale on Saturday. The Crusaders are seeking their second-straight series sweep and their first ASC road sweep of the season. Watch live here.
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