CONWAY, Ark. – The McMurry University baseball teams showed no ill effects from having not played a game in 17 days as it blasted Southwestern Christian University, 14-2, in its opening game of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region Championships. The win – shortened to eight innings by the 10-run rule - also gave the War Hawks their 30th win (30-11) of the season.
 
McM rode a masterful performance by junior pitcher Ben Bates to the victory, as he improved to 9-2 on the year. Bates scattered six hits over his seven innings of work, allowing one earned run. He struck out eight Eagles (25-25), while walking just one.  Mike Hoffman pitched the eighth for the War Hawks.
 
Bates received plenty of support from his teammates with the bats, as well. For the 30th time this season, McM rolled up a double-digit hit total, slapping 17 hits against SWCU. The War Hawks also notched their 17th game with double figures in runs, as well.
 
McMurry plated three runs in its very first at-bat and never looked back. Patrick Adams opened the game with a sharp single through the right side. Adams would eventually score after three wild pitches by Eagles' starter Kyle Vail (9-5). Ben Douglas would eventually smack a bases-loaded single to drive in two more. McM added single runs in the third and fourth and led 5-1 after six.
 
In the top of the seventh, senior shortstop Kyle Sargent launched his third home run of the season. The three-run blast upped the War Hawks' advantage to 8-1. McM posted six more in the top of the eighth to extend its lead to double figures.
 
Sargent went 4-for-5 at the plate, also slapping a pair of doubles, and amassed four runs batted in. Douglas was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and three RBI.
 
Zack Hagan and Adams each collected three hits, as well. Hagan was 3-for-5 with a double, while Adams was 3-for-6 with a double. Each had an RBI.
 
Cody Howard had his team's fifth double of the game. Howard walked three times, scoring each time he received a free pass.