ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry baseball program is getting back into the swing of things against Heartland Conference opponents as it gears up for a three-game weekend series vs. Texas A & M International on Friday & Saturday.
 
The War Hawks are coming into the weekend having dropped two-of-three to Lubbock Christian last weekend. The series against the Chaps saw LCU post a combined 35 runs between games two and three. However, in game one, Spencer Smith pitched very well, collecting his first complete game in four starts this season, allowing just two earned over seven innings.
 
The Dustdevils of TAMIU are coming off a 2-1 series victory over Newman University, and are currently holding the best record in the Heartland Conference at 12-3.
 
So far this season, Zack Hagan and Eric Moritz are leading the team in batting average, as each are hitting .375 on the year. Dylan De Leon leads the team in hits with 16 and is also hitting .364 on the year. Jon Mejia is the leading RBI man this season, as he currently has six.
 
On the mound, Smith leads the way for McM, as he holds a team-best 1.37 ERA so far this season. Through 26.1 innings, Smith has allowed just 15 hits while striking out 13. Batters are also hitting just .169 this season against the senior, right-hander.
 
Offensively, TAMIU leads the Heartland Conference in total team batting average, as they are boasting a .320 average. They have also scored 89 runs through just 15 games this year. Six different hitters for the Dustdevils are hitting over .300 on the year, led by Alex McKeon's .396 average. Alex Salas is hitting .375 while Alvaro Rondon is batting .372.
 
On the mound, the ace for the Dustdevils is Abdel Rivera who is 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA through four starts this season. Rivera leads the team in strikeouts with 13 and has allowed just 23 baserunners through 25 total innings.
 
McM and TAMIU will square off in double-header action on Friday starting at 3 p.m. with the series wrapping up Saturday with a nine-inning contest starting at 1 p.m.