ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University baseball returned home to Walt Driggers Field for the first time since February 7, splitting an American southwest Conference doubleheader with Belhaven University. The War Hawks (3-5) won the opener, 2-1, and dropped the nightcap to the Blazers (4-2), 6-4.
 
In game one, McM starter John Eric Cortez went five strong innings, scattering six hits and allowing one earned run. Cortez had great control as he struck out six and walked just one. He gave way to Tyler Jenkins, who tossed the sixth without allowing a run.
 
In the final frame of then seven-inning game, freshman Juan Valadez earned his first collegiate decision by throwing a scoreless seventh.  With the game tied at 1-1, Valadez was the benefactor of the War Hawks walk-off rally.
 
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Patrick Adams singled through the right side of the infield and was advanced to second when Chris Baker drew a walk. Jenkins, the designated hitter, also milked a walk that loaded the bases.
 
McM head coach John Byington then called on Danny Perkins to pinch hit Jordan Speck. Perkins smashed a high hopper toward third base. The Blazers Daniel Ammirati went high up in the air to field the ball, stepped on third to force out Baker and then rifled the ball across the diamond trying to complete the double-play that would have ended the game. However, Ammirati's throw was high and pulled BU first baseman Trey Eschberger way off the bag, allowing Adams to trot home with the winning run from third.
 
Kevin Garza was 3-for-4 as the only McM player with more than one hit. In all, McM collected six hits, while the Blazers tagged seven hits.
 
In the second game of the twinbill, BU led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the inning, when McMurry plated an unearned run to make if 2-1. The Blazers posted two runs in both their halves of the eighth and ninth to move ahead 6-1, with the game seemingly well in hand.
 
In the bottom of the ninth and done to their last at-bat, the War Hawks played some station-to-station baseball to chip away at the deficit. Perkins led off with a single and Ty Kirk walked. After Nick Moore struck out swinging, Randy Crevier singled to load the bases. Jordan Speck's RBI single pushed across Perkins to make it 6-2.
 
Kevin Garza struck out, putting BU within an out of the win. But McM was not finished, as Adams laced a single to the middle of the infield that was knocked down by second baseman Will Mullen but, with no play, left the sacks loaded and another run in. Baker came to the plate and was hit by a pitch to drive in another McM tally and make it 6-4. With the winning run on first, Jenkins struck out swinging to end the uprising.
 
McMurry once again booked six hits in the game, with Perkins going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
Starter Garrett Johnston (0-2) absorbed the loss for McMurry. Johnston went 6.2 innings, permitting five hits and a pair of earned runs. He had four "K's" and two walks in his stint.
 
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at McMurry's Driggers Field.