GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas –
Zack Hagan collected three hits and drove in three runs to propel McMurry University to an 11-6 win over Arlington Baptist College at QuikTrip Park. The win was the second in a row for the War Hawks (5-3) and fourth in the past five games.
Hagan, a senior right-fielder, slammed a solo home run in the top of the second inning to post the first run of the game, gong 3-for-5 overall. It was Hagan's second round-tripper of the season, both coming in consecutive games. He also scored three runs, as well.
Senior firstbaseman
Cody Howard went 3-for-4 with two runs and one run batted in. Howard had a pair of singles and led off the seventh inning with a stand-up triple, opening the door for a four-run frame.
But the most damage was done in the fifth inning. McMurry sent nine men to the plate and booked six runs, moving out to a 7-1 advantage over the Patriots (2-4).
Ben Douglas' two-run triple was the big blow. In all, McM had four hits and drew three walks in its half of the fifth.
On the day, Douglas was 2-for-4 with two hits and three RBI. Senior shortstop
Kyle Sargent was the fourth War Hawk player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run and one RBI.
Junior righty
Ben Bates improved his personal record to 1-1, giving head coach
John Byington six solid innings of work. Bates scattered six hits and allowed two runs, just one of which was earned. He struck out seven and walked just one.
Trevor Ragsdale threw a perfect seventh to maintain the War Hawks' 11-2 cushion. But ABC got to freshman
Wes Cauley – the third of five McM hurlers - for four earned runs in the bottom of the eighth, cutting the margin to 11-6.
John Eric Cortez tossed a scoreless ninth to seal the win.
McMurry rolled up 14 hits, giving the team 29 hits and 21 runs in its last two contests.
After arriving home late Monday evening from its three-game North Carolina swing, only to get right back on a bus this afternoon for the game with Arlington Baptist, the War Hawks will have a week off before hosting Howard Payne on February 17 (7 p.m.) at Walt Driggers Field.
