BELTON, Texas - The Austin College baseball team jumped on top of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the top of the first, but the 'Roos would ultimately fall 12-2 to the Crusaders in the team's season opener on Friday evening.

RayShawn Riley put Austin College up 1-0 in the top of the first with an RBI single to score Ryan Padfield, but UMHB responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead from the 'Roos. Three more runs came across for the Cru in the bottom of the third to make it 5-1, and the margin grew to 6-1 after five innings of play.

Jake Trapani got the 'Roos back on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth to plate Padfield, but UMHB answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, and would then tack on two more in the seventh to make it 11-2. One more run came across in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 12-2 final. Trystan Mallory absorbed the loss for the 'Roos, giving up five runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work, while Riley paced Austin College at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance in his debut for the 'Roos. Trapani added a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

Austin College and UMHB wrap up their three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader slated to begin at noon.