Covering UMHB Athletics and the stories behind the score
CLEVELAND, Miss.- The UMHB softball team encountered rain, wind, and consecutive one-run games, but the Crusaders have lived to fight another day at the ASC Tournament. UMHB, the nation’s No. 9 team, won its opening round game over McMurry early Friday before dropping the following contest in walk-off fashion to No. 8 ETBU.
CLEVELAND, Miss.-Lexi Harris’ senior season has gone perhaps even better than expected.
The UMHB softball team’s starting center fielder, she is one of just two Crusaders, starting shortstop Milly Cesare being the other, to have started all 40 games for the team this season. In those 40 games, she has become the only player in the lineup to be hitting for a batting average above .400, at .405, and her 53 hits lead the Cru by a wide margin.
BROWNWOOD, Texas- Three weeks ago, UMHB softball head coach Melissa Mojica said that if her team could stay focused, there was great potential to win the final nine games on the ASC schedule.
The Crusaders did just that. A win streak started by a sweep of Concordia in Austin gave way to victory after victory over the final three weekends of the season. In fact, UMHB, ranked No. 10 in the nation, has not fallen since April 2. And that was on the road against national power ETBU.
BELTON- In the spring of 2020, things were put into perspective for everyone, including spring-sport college athletes, who saw their seasons abruptly end with no return to the field in sight. Tatum Stover was one of them, But for the UMHB first baseman, it was not the first time life was literally put into perspective.
GLADEWATER, Texas- The weather was unbearable at times. The field was competitive. Winning a three-day tournament is not easy. But the UMHB women’s golf team overcame the odds, and claimed the program’s 13th ASC Tournament Title on Tuesday afternoon by four strokes. The victory punched the Crusaders’ ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
BELTON- After posting a 24-2 record in the 2021 season, the UMHB volleyball team is set to return to the court on the first day of September, prepared to defend its ASC regular season title.
BELTON- The UMHB Acrobatics and Tumbling program has been in existence for just three years. But it might as well be two.
The 2020 season was cut short by three meets, so 2021 was the first time the Cru competed in a full schedule. Yet, in just that short time, the program has already reached a number of milestones…
BELTON- Rachel Williams stood in the circle, facing the Sul Ross State batter. With two outs and an 0-2 count to Taryn Griner, Williams needed just one more strike to close out the game, the series, and likely, her career at UMHB’s Dee Dillon Field.
BELTON- Rachel Williams never planned on playing softball again. Not after she left the Tarleton State program in the fall of 2019. At that point, the Lorena, Texas native had aspirations of a career in occupational therapy. Now, she is pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration, aiming at going the coaching route. And she is back on a collegiate softball team. Something drew her back to the sport. And UMHB is awfully glad for that.
BELTON- The UMHB men’s and women’s soccer teams have plenty to look forward to in the 2022 season, including each of their respective schedules, which were released on Wednesday afternoon. Highlighted by strong non-conference matches featuring a mix of NAIA and D-III opponents, both teams will be challenged early and often. The Crusaders are looking to replicate enormous success experienced during the 2021 campaigns.