FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – A shaky effort by the McMurry University bullpen let a game slip away versus Christopher Newport University, 5-4, at Armstrong-Shelley Field. The loss dropped the War Hawks to 3-3 overall, while the Captains improved to 2-0.
 
After trailing 2-0 and going hitless through the first five innings of the game, McM erupted in the sixth. With two out, Kyle Sargent and Christian Simmons coaxed back-to-back walks, bringing up Cody Howard. Howard slugged a three-run homer to put the War Hawks on top, 3-2.
 
McMurry added a run in the seventh thanks to yet another two-out rally. With two down, Nick Marsh walked and stole second. Patrick Adams laced an RBI single to center to make it 4-2.
 
Trevor Ragsdale – who came on in relief of starter Mitch Labbie after 6 2/3 innings – walked the leadoff batter in the ninth. That was all for Ragsdale, as Jesus Vasquez was summoned from the bullpen. But Vasquez was greeted by a double off the bat of Travis Myers with Josh Moore stopping at third. An infield single cut McM's cushion to 4-3 and put runners on the corners.
 
Vasquez had the tying run trot home on a passed ball, with the potential winning run moving up to third base. Keith Roberts' sacrifice fly allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate, 5-4. The War Hawks went down in order in the bottom of the ninth as Vasquez (0-2) absorbed the loss.
 
McM starter Labbie had six strikeouts and no walks, allowing the two earned runs early in the game. Labbie permitted seven of CNU's hits.
 
The Captains had 11 total hits off of the McM staff, six 0f which were of the extra-base variety. In all, McMurry had four hits in the game.
 
McM will close out the three-game trip to Fayetteville with a noon (ET) game versus Lynchburg College on Sunday afternoon.