ABILENE, Texas – Round one of McMurry University's series versus the American Southwest Conference West Division leaders went to Concordia University-Texas, 7-6, at Walt Driggers Field.

The loss dropped the War Hawks to 18-17 overall and 11-5 in the ASC West. The Tornados improved to 28-6 and 12-2 in league play.

Neither starter – Scott Mays of CTX or Spencer Smith of McMurry – were around past the midway point of the game. Mays was chased after 3 2/3 innings, while Smith bowed out after 4 1/3 frames. Neither would be involved in the decision.

The War Hawks plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning and all were charged to Mays. In the top of the third, Smith allowed five earned runs and another in the top of the fourth as the Tornados went up 6-4.

McMurry answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to knot matters at 6-6.

CTX managed a solo run off of McM reliever Casey Berryman in the top of the sixth and then held off the War Hawks the rest of the way. Russell Johns pitched a scoreless ninth for the Tornados to notch his second save of the year.

Third baseman Nick Marsh went 2-for-5 on the night, scoring once. Marsh also drove in three runs, including a two-run double in the War Hawks' four-run second.

Leadoff man Ruben Zendejas went 3-for-5 as the only other McM player with multiple hits.