ALPINE, Texas – McMurry University baseball split its doubleheader with Sul Ross State University, losing the opener 7-5 and salvaging the final game of the series, 13-11, with a come-from-behind victory in the nightcap.  The War Hawks are now 9-10 overall and the Lobos stand at 11-10 on the year.
 
In game one, the War Hawks took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. With one out and Danny Perkins on first, Noah Clarkson slapped a double to left that plated Perkins. However, the advantage was short-lived, as the Lobos responded with three runs – two unearned – in the bottom of the frame to go on top, 3-1.
 
But McMurry got even in its half of the fourth. Designated hitter Tyler Jenkins led off the inning by belting his third home run of the year to make it 3-2. Clarkson would draw a one-out walk and, two batters later, scored on Taylor Ward's single to right to knot the game at 3-3.
 
In the top of the sixth, things finally looked to be going the War Hawks' way, as the visitors took the lead. Nicholas Moore laced a one-out double to left. With Robert White running for Moore, Matt Chalk then drew a walk. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Ward once again.
 
Ward promptly singled to left field, driving home White and Chalk, as McMurry forged ahead, 5-3.
 
Meanwhile, McM starter Benjamin Russell was cruising along, having only had the second-inning hiccup. After retiring the first batter in the bottom of the sixth, Russell gave up a single followed by an RBI double to make it 5-4.
 
That would end Russell's day, exiting with four strikeouts and no walks. Jenkins came on in relief with the runner on second still Russell's responsibility. Jenkins induced a fly out to the first batter he faced for the second out of the inning. However, after that Jenkins would four consecutive hits that – when the dust had settled – had allowed the Lobos to take back the lead.
 
McM went down in order in the seventh to end the contest at 7-5.
 
As frustrating as game one might have been for the War Hawks, game two was equally exhilarating. Solo home runs by Kirk (in the second) and Chris Baker (in the fourth) helped McM in the early going. McMurry trailed 11-4 after seven innings and appeared headed toward being swept by the Lobos.
 
However, in the top half of the eighth, the War Hawks mounted their big comeback.  McMurry sent 13 men to the plate, tallying eight runs – three with two-outs – and eight hits in the frame. Jenkins led off the inning with a triple to center field and then had an RBI single his second time up in the inning, as the War Hawks went ahead 12-11.
 
McM added an insurance run in the top of the ninth.
 
The waning innings were not without some anxious moments for the War Hawks defense, either, as SRSU loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings.  In the eighth facing McM freshman reliever Juan Valadez and the bases full of Lobos, with one out, SRSU's Phillip Russell drove a ball to medium center field. David Gonzales tried to score from third, but McM centerfielder Kevin Garza threw a perfect strike to catcher Taylor Ward to quell the threat.
 
In the SRSU ninth, Valadez retired the leadoff man. But two singles – sandwiching a fielding error – loaded the bases once more. McM head coach John Byington's faith in staying with his young closer paid off, as Valadez struck out the next batter and then induced a game-ending pop out to shortstop to secure the 13-11 victory.
 
Valadez, the last of four McM hurlers in the game, improved his personal record to 2-1 with his 2.2 innings of work. He struck out two and did not walk a batter in his scoreless relief stint.
 
Garrett Johnston started for McM and went 4.1 innings and permitting 11 hits and nine runs. Mike Hoffman followed Johnston, but did not record an out, and Will Dunlap went 2.0 innings and gave up one unearned run.
 
Kirk led the War Hawks 17-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Garza was 3-for-6 with two runs and two RBI. Baker, Jenkins, Clarkson and Jordan Speck each had two hits for McM. Baker also drove in a pair of runs in the big win.
 
The War Hawks will host Dallas Christian College on Tuesday (March 22) at 3 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field, in a non-conference game.