ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry baseball team will look to get back on track in Heartland Conference play as it hosts the Lions of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith in a three-game series this weekend.
The War Hawks are coming off a 10-3 loss at the hands of Angelo State. They are also 2-5 in their last seven games having dropped a series to Texas – Permian Basin and St. Edward's in back-to-back weeks.
In the 10-3 loss to Angelo State, the War Hawks fell victim to four errors by the defense, which led to five, unearned, Rams runs. The team also managed six hits in the ballgame with RBI coming from
Jordan Kennedy,
Ricky Garcia and
Cody Howard.
The Lions are coming off a win over Rogers State University and 2-1 series victory over Texas A&M – International. In the TAMIU series, UAFS won games one and three by 4-2 scores, losing game two, also by a 4-2 score.
Through 36 games this season, Jon Mejia continues to lead the War Hawks in batting average (.365) and slugging percentage (.595). Garcia now leads McM in RBI with 16 and has nine doubles on the year, which also leads the teams.
On the mound, freshman
Aaron Burns leads the team with a 3.11 ERA, and has a 4-3 record through 11 appearances. Burns also ranks second on the team in strikeouts with 45, four behind team leader
Chase Moreland's 49. Closer
Jared Hopper leads the team and is tied for fourth in the conference in wins with five.
So far on the season, the Lions' offense ranks eighth in the Heartland Conference in total batting average, hitting just .239 as a team. Adam Baker leads the team with a .292 average through 30 games. Ben Smith is Fort Smith's leading RBI man, having driven in 18 on the season, and also leads the team in hits with 29.
The Lions' pitching staff comes into the contest with a combined 4.45 ERA. Hasten Freeman is arguably the team's ace. Freeman boasts a 2.94 ERA and a 4-2 record with three complete games in 12 appearances.
The series marks the first of the season between the two schools as the series that was scheduled for earlier in the season was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
The War Hawks and Lions will play a double header on Friday, April 12 starting at 3 p.m. with a nine-inning game to be played on Saturday, April 13. First pitch of that contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
