Box Score CONWAY, Ark. – For six innings the McMurry University baseball team had firm control of its destiny in the semifinals of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region tournament. That is until a disastrous seventh inning paved the way to a 8-5 loss versus the No.1-seed Oklahoma Christian University at Victory Field.
 
Now the War Hawks (31-12) must fight back through the elimination bracket to win the tourney. McM would need to win a total of three times on Saturday – including having to defeat OC twice - to take the crown.
 
McMurry was sailing along after tallying two runs each in the second and third frames, while adding a solo run in the sixth for what seemed to be a commanding 5-0 advantage behind pitcher Mitch Labbie. Labbie had nine strikeouts and had a no-hitter going over that span.
 
But "seven" was not the lucky number for the War Hawks.
 
A leadoff walk was followed by a Labbie balk. OC's Kyle Lacy then hit a routine grounder to second, only to have McM second baseman slip on the wet sod for what was ruled an infield single, putting runners on the corners. Labbie would hit the next batter to load the bases. Jackson Mathews then slapped a single to center to drive in one, followed by a pair of throwing errors on the relay that – when the dust had settled – had cleared the bases with Mathews standing on second. Mathews eventually came around, after Labbie was lifted, to cut McM's cushion to 5-4.
 
In the eighth, OC had four-consecutive hits en route to posting three more runs, putting the War Hawks down for the first time in the tournament, 7-5. The Eagles added one in the top of the ninth for the 8-5 final score.
 
Casey Berryman, normally one of McM's third basemen, took the loss in relief of Labbie. Berryman gave up three hits and two earned runs in his one inning of work.  Rody Johnson did not register an out coming in for Berryman. Starting shortstop Kyle Sargent pitched two innings of relief, as well.
 
Cody Howard went 3-for-5 to pace McM's seven-hit attack. Ben Douglas was 2-for-4 with two RBI, before exiting in the game in the eighth on a double switch when Sargent came on to pitch.