Box Score

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The McMurry University baseball team took the lid off of its 2012 squad, opening a three-game series at Tarleton State University with a 2-1 loss on Saturday at Cecil Ballow Field.
 
War Hawk starting pitcher Spence Smith gave McM Head Coach John Byington five innings out of the 2012 blocks. Smith scattered five hits and gave up one earned run. He walked three and struck two, while also hitting a pair of Texan batters.
 
The McMurry offense had given Smith the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff man Ruben Zendejas drew an opening walk and eventually advanced to third. With two out, designated hitter Andrew Bell laced a base hit to drive in Zendejas.
 
The Texans run off of Smith came in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back doubles were followed by an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Smith gave way to Jacob Dentoni after the rough fifth. Dentoni kept Tarleton at bay in the sixth through eighth innings. However, the speed bump to his day came in the ninth frame, when Dantoni was greeted by a hard-hit ball off the third baseman, followed by a sacrifice bunt. A walk and hit batter loaded the bases.
 
Byington then brought in Deen Coleman to face TU's Evan Robinson. With a 2-2 count, Robinson smacked a soft liner into left that plated the winning run.
 
McMurry's Nos. 1-5 hitters in the batting order accounted for six of the team's eight hits. Bell was 2-for-4 with the run batted in. Centerfielder Dylan De Leon – who went 2-for-3 – got the only hits in the lower portion of the order.
 
The same two teams will square off again for a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.