Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  
JACKSON, Miss. – The McMurry University and Belhaven University baseball teams split a non-conference doubleheader. The War Hawks (2-3) won the opener in extra innings, 5-4, and then lost the nightcap, 4-3, at Smith-Wills Stadium.
 
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
In game one, McM pushed across an unearned run to break out of the gate. Payton Stokes singled with one out and then Tyler Jenkins singled to center, with both runners taking an extra base on a fielding error. Chris Baker then hit a slow ground out to first that plated Stokes to make it 1-0 after just one-half inning.
 
But the War hawks' joy was short lived. The Blazers scored twice in the bottom of the first and twice more in their half of the fifth to grab a 4-1 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth, stokes drew a one-out walk.  Jenkins then launched his second home run of the season, clearing the left field fence, to make the score 4-3. Baker followed with a triple to the right-center field gap. Matthew Chalk grounded to short and, rather than record the out at first, a play was made at the plate and Baker slide home safely to knot the game at 4-4 on the fielder's choice.
 
The score remained tied through the scheduled seven innings, sending the War Hawks into their first extra-inning game of the season. In the top of the ninth, Jordan Speck was hit by a pitch. With Noah Clarkson at the plate, Speck went to second on a wild pitch. Clarkson then grounded to third and, when the ball was misplayed, Speck scored the go-ahead run.
 
Game one starter Juan Valadez went 5.0 innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs.  Valadez struck out five and walked four, hitting two batters.  Senior John Eric Cortez (1-1) came on in relief and delivered four scoreless innings and scattered two hits to earn the victory. Cortez had three strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
 
Jenkins went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in and a run scored. Stokes scored two runs, going 1-for-3 at the plate.
 
In game two, set for seven innings (due to game one going nine), back-to-back two-out doubles by Jenkins and Baker once again put the War Hawks on top to open the game, 1-0. BU tied the game with a run in the second.
 
In the top of the fourth, McM again utilized Baker's bat when the senior firstbaseman slapped a leadoff double down the left field line. Chalk followed that with a double to left to drive home Baker.  Chalk went to third on a grounder to second and scored on Speck's RBI ground out, making it 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Blazers mounted a two-out game-winning rally. A triple and RBI single made the score 3-2 and chased starter Jenkins. Jenkins (0-1) went 4.2 innings and was charged with three earned runs, with three "Ks" and two walks.
 
Jack Poe(1-1) came on in relief of Jenkins and would take the loss. Poe was greeted rudely by the first batter he faced – Terrell Hodges – who slammed a two-run homer that gave Belhaven what would prove to be the deciding runs, 4-3.
 
Poe would finish the game with three strikeouts and no walks.
 
Baker went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI.  Chalk was the only other McM player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, as well.