Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – Spencer Smith pitched a complete-game 3-hit shutout, Matt Thompson homered and scored three runs, and McMurry University took the first of a three-game series with East Texas Baptist 5-0 Friday night at Walt Driggers Field.

Smith struck out eight and walked just two improving to 2-2 on the season in the 124-pitch gem. The War Hawks improved to 3-11 on the season and the Tigers fell to 4-7 in the American Southwest Conference crossover game.

McMurry had eight hits including two from Thompson and three from freshman Connor Griffith in his collegiate debut. Griffith and Ruben Zendejas had RBI singles in the second inning to help the War Hawks jump out to a 2-0 lead. In the fourth, Thompson scored on a Zendejas fielder's choice to give McMurry a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth, Hunter Lane drew a two-out walk after falling behind 0-2 setting up Thompson's line-drive home run over the rightfield wall. It was Thompson's second home run of the season and the 15th of the senior's career.

Smith completed his third career game and recorded his second career shutout. He struck out the side in the second inning and had a six-pitch third to help keep the Tigers baffled. ETBU's Matt Sullivan had a pair of doubles,  but McMurry was able to remain unscathed.

Chance Cotton picked up the loss allowing all five runs (four earned) in six innings, he walked four and struck out six to fall to 1-3 on the season.

The two teams will square off in a doubleheader Saturday to decide the series beginning at 1 p.m.