FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – McMurry University utilized a 15-hit attack and another great pitching performance from Lanny Zier in scoring a 10-1 win over Lynchburg College at Armstrong-Shelley Field. The War Hawks (4-3) completed play in the three-game Methodist University Classic with a 2-1 record, by virtue of the win over the Hornets (0-3).
 
Every McMurry starting position player had at least one hit in the team's 15-hit barrage. Christian Simmons – moving into the leadoff slot for the game – went 3-for-5 on the day to lead the attack. Mikal Hunter, Ben Douglas, Ricky Garcia and Kyle Sargent all had two hits.
 
Douglas, Cody Howard and Zack Hagan all had two runs batted in, apiece.
 
The right-handed Zier (2-0) had his second-consecutive strong effort to open the season for McM head coach John Byington. Zier went 7.0 innings, scattered five hits, walked one and struck out one. He gave up a leadoff homer in the bottom of the second inning for the Hornets' only run and, after a pair of back-to-back singles in the fourth, induced a double-play grounder to get out of the jam.
 
Mike Hoffman pitched the final two innings to close out matters. Hoffman allowed one hit and struck out two in his scoreless stint.
 
The War Hawks did all of their damage with the bats in the fourth through sixth innings.
 
With one out in the fourth, Hunter reached on an error by LC shortstop Austin Owens. Douglas then slapped an RBI double to right-center field to knot the game at 1-1. That brought up senior rightfielder Zack Hagan, who promptly uncorked his first home run of the season to give McM a 3-1 advantage.
 
In the fifth, McMurry put another three-spot on the scoreboard. Sargent singles to right and went to third on Simmons' double to center. Consecutive RBI ground outs by Patrick Adams and Howard. Hunter then reached on a drag bunt single and took second on a throwing error, moving to third on a wild pitch with Douglas at the plate. Douglas made the score 6-1 with a single to right.
 
McM sent eight men to the plate in the sixth, resulting in four more runs for its total. Sargent, Simmons and Hunter all had RBI singles, while Howard had a successful suicide squeeze bunt, as well.  When the smoke of the bottom of the frame had cleared, the War Hawks' lead had ballooned to 10-1.
 
The War Hawks will next face Arlington Baptist College on Tuesday (Feb. 10) at Quik Trip Park in Arlington. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.