Photo by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru
BELTON–A year ago, almost to the day, the series against Ozarks spelled the end of any postseason hopes for the UMHB Baseball. The Crusaders were eliminated from ASC Tournament contention as they struggled on the road against the Eagles late in the season.
Fast forward to Saturday’s series finale, and the situation was notably different against the same opponent. With its conference tournament spot already clinched, The Cru earned its first series win over Ozarks since 2016, furthering what has been an exceptional regular season thus far.
“It was a year ago where we actually [had] our season ended [against] Ozarks, so to now be in a really good spot where we know we’re going to be playing playoff baseball is a pretty cool thing,” UMHB head coach Mike Stawski told Kyle Shipp of Cruathletics.com postgame.
The Crusaders bounced back from Friday’s 5-1 loss in Game 2, winning 8-2 on alumni day in their final regular season ASC contest. At minimum, UMHB will be the No. 3 seed in the ASC Tournament in Marshall, Texas, and The Cru remains in play for the No. 2 seed with one week left. UMHB is 22-13 overall, and 14-10 in ASC play.
Quality pitching, especially with runners on base, proved key for The Cru in the win, as Ozarks tallied eight hits, but stranded 11 baserunners. UMHB pitched by committee, for the most part, utilizing seven different arms in the nine-inning victory.
Starter Andrew Acierni saw his first action on the mound since March 1, pitching in what was likely his final appearance at Red Murff Field. The senior right-hander tossed a scoreless, hitless, first inning, followed by three quality innings from Nicklas Fenner.
Keegan Symons picked up the win as he escaped from a fifth-inning jam in what was likely Ozarks’ best scoring opportunity of the contest. After recording a groundout to start the inning, Symons gave up a single to Brice Cagle, followed by a walk to Juan Munoz. Connor Reed then singled, loading the bases for the Eagles with just one out.
But Nicholas Bennett sent a groundball to UMHB third baseman Rhett Grosz, who threw home to catcher Elijah Rodriguez for the force out, preventing Ozarks’ second run of the game from crossing the plate. Symons then struck out Cole Clark, ending the inning with the score tied 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, UMHB’s bats came alive. Five straight base hits opened the frame as The Cru took a 5-1 lead before Ozarks recorded the inning’s first out. The Eagles then came up with consecutive groundouts, but aggressive baserunning from Tyler Betts, whose single scored Drake Herrera from second for the game’s fifth run, added one more run to UMHB’s advantage. With Jayden Chatman at the plate, a pitch got past Cagle, the Eagles’ catcher, and Betts didn’t hesitate, breaking for home. He scored on the play, as UMHB came away with a five-run fifth.
Herrera, who has been used in several pinch-running situations this season and scored the game-winning run in Friday’s walk-off win, tallied a season-high three RBIs in his first start of 2024. He led the team in RBIs and went 1-for-3 with a run scored. He also drew a key walk with the bases loaded in the sixth, as Easton Cline extended UMHB’s lead to 6-1. Carson Hagan’s RBI single two batters later capped The Cru’s scoring, as he drove in Rodriguez from third.
Game Notes
- Rhett Grosz was one of two Crusaders with two hits in the win. It marked his 20th multi-hit game of the season, as he is batting .438 on the year.
- Jayden Chatman also had two hits. In five of his seven games this season with a hit, the transfer from Frank Phillips College has tallied two.
- UMHB has now won four of its five ASC home series this season. The Crusaders are 16-7 overall in games played at home.
- The Crusaders close the regular season schedule with a winning percentage of .583 in conference games. It is the highest mark in five seasons under Stawski, and the best win percentage since 2017, when UMHB went 16-8.
Up Next
UMHB hosts Trinity (TX) in Belton on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT. It marks the regular season home finale for The Cru in 2024, and Trinity is currently ranked No. 12 in the country with a 25-9 overall record. UMHB won the first meeting earlier this season in San Antonio, 6-3, on March 5.
