ALPINE, Texas – Sul Ross State took the series from McMurry by taking the first game of Friday's doubleheader at Kokernot Field with a 9-6 victory. However, McMurry salvaged the series and avoided a sweep by taking the series finale 19-5.

The two victories in three games for the Lobos put the team at a 9-9 mark in American Southwest Conference West Division play and put them a step closer to making a run at the ASC Postseason Tournament. McMurry on the other hand, entered the series tied for second place, but dropped to 11-7 in league play and will need to play well in its final series against Hardin-Simmons Friday and Saturday to ensure placement in the tournament, which takes place the last week of April.

McMurry moved to 19-17 overall while the Lobos moved to 17-15 overall.

Below is a recap of each game of Friday's doubleheader.

Game 1 – Sul Ross 9 McMurry 6

McMurry squandered a 5-0 lead when Sul Ross State scored seven runs in the fourth inning and held on for a 9-6 victory to ensure the series win for the Lobos. Bill Tom Milburn and Kurt Hurley each hit 3-run home runs in the fourth inning for Sul Ross to help the Lobos prevail.

Dakota Smith, the McMurry starter, retired the first nine hitters he faced, but he ran into trouble in the fourth. Jared Mosqueda walked to leadoff the inning, Brennyn Smith hit an infield single and Javier Arietta moved to Mosquda to third on a fielder's choice. Then, Milburn hit a deep fly to right centerfield that cleared the wall to cut the McMurry lead to two at 5-3.

Then, Eric Mata singled, Cameron Sellstron reached on an error and Hurley took Dakota Smith's 0-2 pitch opposite field to right where the ball bounced off the top of the fence and over to help the Lobos take the lead at 6-5. Brennyn Smith added an RBI single to give the Lobos a two-run advantage.

Jake Mullin added his second home run of the game in the sixth to cut the lead to one on a solo shot, but that would be the last run McMurry would produce.

Leonardo Carranza picked up the win in relief for Sul Ross State and Cody Christian picked up the save in the final 1.2 innings. Dakota Smith picked up the loss despite the hot start and was charged with five earned runs with seven surrendered to move to 6-3 on the season.

Game 2 – McMurry 19 Sul Ross State 5

McMurry University avoided a weep and overcame a four-run deficit to pound Sul Ross State 19-5 in the final game of the three-game series. Kory Moench drove in four runs while Matt Thompson and Jake Mullin each drove in three to highlight the win for McMurry.

Mullin extended his hit streak to 19 games with a double and a triple in his final two at bats while Thomjpson hit two home runs, his first two of the season, and collected three hits in the game. Moench hit a 3-run homer in the fourth inning and drove home a run with a single in the ninth.

The first eight batters in the McMurry lineup all had at least two hits with Andrew Bell leading the way with five hits. Dylan De Leon hit a pair of doubles and drove in two runs while Derek Saltzgaber and Bell each had a pair as well.

Chris Semchenko threw nine innings for McMurry to pick up the win and move to 5-1 on the season. He scattered 10 hits, allowed five runs, four earned, walked three and struck out five.

Lucas Garza took the loss in his first start of the season. He allowed 10 runs, eight earned and 12 hits. The Lobo bullpen combined for the last four innings and allowed 11 hits and nine runs.