Box Score ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry baseball team earned its second series sweep of the season as it took the third and final game of a three-game set, 3-1, over the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith on Saturday.
 
The War Hawks pitching staff shut down the Lions, using four pitchers that combined to allow just seven hits, and zero earned runs over the nine-inning contest.
 
UAFS got on the board first in the top of the first inning, when a misplayed relay throw from right-field allowed a runner to score all the way from first base to notch the only unearned run of the contest for the Lions.
 
The War Hawks fought back in the bottom of the second innings. Casey Berryman led off the inning with a single to right field and was moved to second on a walk issued to Nick Marsh. Adam Neubauer then attempted to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but reached base safely on an error by the pitcher. Eric Mortiz then drove Berryman to tie the game, Greg Koll gave the War Hawks the lead with a two-out double, scoring Marsh to give McM the 2-1 lead.
 
Over the next six innings, both teams had their chances to score, but solid pitching on both sides kept both squads off the board.
 
After allowing just the one, unearned, run in the top of the first, starter Aaron Burns scattered five hits over the next five innings, and Joel DePorte came in and worked a scoreless seventh inning to keep UAFS off the board.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, the second McMurry error of the game placed the tying run on first base with one out, and coach John Byington quickly went to closer Jared Hopper to try to save the game. After the next batter reached on a fielder's choice, Hopper got the next two Lions out to preserve the 2-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the War Hawks were able to add an insurance run for its pitching staff. Dylan De Leon doubled off the left field wall with one out and was brought in on a RBI single by Cody Howard to make the score 3-1.
 
With a two-run lead, Hopper wasted little time forcing the Lions to go one, two, three in the top of the ninth, earning his fourth save of the season and giving the War Hawks their first series sweep since the seasons' opening series against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
 
Offensively, the War Hawks were led by Greg Koll's multi-hit day as he went 2-for-3 with a RBI. Howard also drove in a run, marking the fourth-straight game the Howard has notched a RBI. Berryman, De Leon, and Ruben Zendejas all also added hits on the day.
 
Burns earned his fifth win of the season, pitching six strong innings while not allowing an earned run and striking out seven batters. Against Heartland Conference Opponents this season, Burns is boasting a 5-1 record with a 1.56 ERA in 57.2 innings pitch over nine starts. His five wins are tied for the team lead with Hopper.
 
The War Hawks will be back in action on Monday, April 15 when they will play host to Oklahoma Christian in a nine-inning contest. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch.