HOBBS, N.M. – A good effort by McMurry University starter John Eric Cortez went by the wayside when host University of the Southwest tagged the McM bullpen for five runs in the eighth inning in a 5-3 road loss.  The setback snapped the War Hawks' (18-5) five-game win streak, as well.
 
McMurry scored its first two runs of the game – one each in the second and fourth innings - in the exact same manner:  a double by designated hitter Ben Douglas, followed by an RBI single from catcher Mikal Hunter.  In the fourth, a sacrifice fly by Kyle Sargent helped his team take a 3-0 advantage.
 
But that would be the extent of the War Hawks' offense for the afternoon, despite banging out a total of 13 hits. USW matched McMurry's hit total and, unfortunately for then War Hawks six of them came in the huge eighth inning.
 
Cortez went seven scoreless innings and scattered seven hits. He walked one and struck out three Mustangs. Cortez gave way to Ricky Lopez who took the hill in the top of the eighth.
 
After retiring the first batter, USW would tally five runs – only two of which were earned – aided by an McM error in the frame. All of the Mustangs' runs were charged to Lopez. Aaron Donald came on in relief of Lopez to get the final out of the inning.
 
McMurry was unable to muster a threat in the ninth off of USW closer Aaron Higgins, who got credit for the save.
 
Hunter finished the day going 3-for-3 with the pair of RBI. Patrick Adams (2-for-5), Zack Hagan (2-for-5), Douglas (2-for-4) and Sargent (2-for-3) all joined Hunter with multi-hit games. Hagan had a triple to go along with Douglas' pair of doubles to account for the team's extra-base hits.
 
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday in Abilene to cap the three-game series. First pitch at Walt Driggers Field is slated for 3 p.m.