Box Score
BELTON – No. 20-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor came out on top a 13-11 slugfest Thursday at Red Murff Field in a battle between the top two American Southwest Conference West Division teams. The Crusaders belted four home runs and McMurry's ninth-inning rally fell short and UMHB moved to 6-1 in the ASC West Division and McMurry fell to 4-3.
Trailing 9-7 entering the eighth inning, McMurry cut the lead to one run when Stephen Derrick drove home Derek David. However, the Crusaders jumped on McMurry pitching in the eighth and scored four runs on five hits to increase the advantage to 13-8.
UMHB's Adam Froeschl led off with a single, then Andrew White reached on an error. From there, the Crusaders pieced together four-straight hits including a two-run double from Steven Reinlie.
McMurry didn't lay down though. Clay Schubert led off the top of the ninth inning with a walk, Evan Reece then singled to put runners at first and second base with no outs. Steven Yurchick then hit an opposite-field 3-run homer for his third of the season and McMurry pulled to within two runs with no outs. However, McMurry's 2-4 hitters went down in order and UMHB took the first game of the 3-game set.
McMurry had the lead on two different occasions. Trailing 3-2, McMurry took a slim 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning. It was short lived, however, the Crusaders countered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go back up 6-4.
In the top of the fifth, Derrick led off with a double and Weston Franco singled setting up Gerad Morris who responded with the first home run of his career. Morris hit the ball deep to left-centerfield for a 3-run shot to give McMurry a 7-6 lead.
Brady Honeycutt spoiled McMurry's lead once again with a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. Then, the Crusaders put up two runs in the sixth and never looked back.
McMurry starter Clint Johnston struggled and gave up all four of UMHB's home runs. He scattered 12 hits, nine runs (eight earned), walked two and struck out five. The loss moved Johnston to 3-3 on the season.
Les Sarles picked up the win for UMHB after McMurry touched up starter R.B. Garza for seven runs. Sarles still allowed three runs, but kept McMurry down enough to pick up the victory when the Crusaders made their move.
McMurry will need to take both games of Friday's doubleheader if it wants to force a tie for first place in the ASC West. Otherwise, UMHB will stand alone in first place at the end of the week. Originally the doubleheader was scheduled for Noon Friday, but UMHB moved the first game time to 1 p.m.
