Marshall, Texas – The 2026 American Southwest Conference Softball Championship is set, with No. 1 seed East Texas Baptist and No. 3 seed Mary Hardin-Baylor advancing to Saturday’s title game.
Mary Hardin-Baylor opened the day with a 3-1 win over Howard Payne, eliminating the Yellow Jackets from tournament play. In game two, East Texas Baptist and Hardin-Simmons battled through nine innings, with the Tigers earning a 4-3 walk-off victory to clinch a spot in the championship round. After a brief rain delay, Mary Hardin-Baylor returned to the field and outlasted Hardin-Simmons 4-3 in the elimination game to secure the final championship berth.
The championship matchup is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at 1:00 p.m. If necessary, a winner-take-all Game 7 will begin 35 minutes following the conclusion of Game 6.
Bracket
2026 Championship Central
Host Site Info + Quick Links
Game 3 [Elimination] | Howard Payne 1, Mary Hardin-Baylor 3 | Box Score
Mary Hardin-Baylor stayed alive at the ASC Softball Championship with a 3-1 comeback win over Howard Payne in Friday’s first game of the day. The Cru collected nine hits and used a three-run fifth inning to erase an early deficit. Ava Perlinger paced UMHB offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Shorey Nguyen and Ryleigh Mills each added two hits. In the circle, Katherine Neal struck out seven over 5.1 innings to earn the win, and Chloe Booth recorded the final five outs to secure the save.
Scoring Summary
4th | Howard Payne struck first when Ashley Blaylock singled to center field, scoring Alyana Salazar to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
5th | Mary Hardin-Baylor answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Perlinger tied the game with an RBI single to left, Jordan Iverson followed with a go-ahead RBI groundout, and Addy Todd doubled to center field to bring home Perlinger for the final 3-1 margin.
Game 4 | East Texas Baptist 4, Hardin-Simmons 3 | Box Score
East Texas Baptist walked off Hardin-Simmons, 4-3, in Friday afternoon’s winner’s bracket matchup to punch its ticket to the Saturday championship game. The Tigers totaled 12 hits and rallied late, tying the game in the seventh before Mallory Pyle delivered the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Emma Boren led ETBU with two hits, including the game-tying RBI in the seventh, while Katelynn Jones, Ryan Stratman, and Piper Morton each added two hits in the win. Avery Holland went the distance in the circle improving to 18-1 on the season.
Scoring Summary
1st | East Texas Baptist struck first with two runs, beginning on Ava Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly that scored Katelynn Jones. Makayla Menchue followed with an RBI single to left, plating Ryan Stratman for an early 2-0 lead.
4th | Hardin-Simmons answered when Grace Thompson lined a two-run triple to right field, scoring Emily Jacobs and Libby Chapman to even the score at 2-2.
6th | The Cowgirls took their first lead of the afternoon after Emily Jacobs singled home Madi Hubbard, with a fielding error allowing Jacobs to advance to third as Hardin-Simmons moved in front 3-2.
7th | ETBU responded in the bottom half when Emma Boren singled to left field, bringing home Izabella Morales to tie the game at 3-3.
9th | The Tigers completed the comeback in walk-off fashion as Mallory Pyle singled to left, scoring Emma Boren for the 4-3 final.
Game 5 [Elimination] | Hardin-Simmons 3, Mary Hardin-Baylor 4 | Box Score
Mary Hardin-Baylor kept its championship hopes alive in the a Friday night elimination game, earning a 4-3 win. The Cru capitalized on limited opportunities, scoring four runs on just three hits, highlighted by a go-ahead two-run home run from Bralyn Belk in the fourth inning. Madelyn Denn provided key relief in the circle, tossing five innings while allowing one run, and Chloe Booth closed the door in the seventh to earn the save.
Scoring Summary
1st | Mary Hardin-Baylor struck first with back-to-back RBI singles, as Ryleigh Mills drove in Addy Todd before Macy Alewine followed with a run-scoring single to center, giving the Cru a 2-0 lead.
2nd | Hardin-Simmons answered with two runs to tie the game. Grace Thompson delivered an RBI single to left field, and Kinzley Cantu followed with an RBI single up the middle to even the score at 2-2.
4th | The Cru regained the lead when Bralyn Belk launched a two-run home run, scoring Sabrina Morgan and pushing Mary Hardin-Baylor in front 4-2.
6th | Hardin-Simmons cut the deficit to one on an Erin Love sacrifice groundout that scored Emily Jacobs, but the Cru held on for the 4-3 victory.