BELTON, Texas – Sophomore
Juan Valadez threw five innings of two-hit ball and
Tyler Jenkins earned his second save of the year as McMurry University scored a 6-4 win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, in an American Southwest Conference contest. The win upped the War Hawks' record to 9-13 overall, while the Crusaders fell to 8-11.
Valadez (3-2) permitted a pair of unearned runs during his stint, striking out two. However, Valadez walked an uncharacteristic six batters before a parade of four relievers closed out the victory. Jenkins, the final hurler of the night, threw a scoreless and hitless ninth, striking out three and walking one.
Jenkins also helped the War Hawks' cause from the plate, as well, going 2-for-5, with a pair of doubles.
Kevin Garza also had a double for McM.
Outfielder
Randy Crevier had the big day from the plate for head coach
John Byington's squad. Crevier went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a run batted in. His big multi-hit game was just the second four-hit game this season for McMurry.
McMurry plated a pair of unearned runs in the first to break out of the gate first. An error by the UMHB secondbaseman permitted Crevier – who had reached with a single – to come home and
Matthew Chalk to move over to third.
Noah Clarkson's sacrifice fly to center made it 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Cru knotted the game at 2-2. UMHB took advantage of an error by mcM secondbaseman
Payton Stokes, allowing two runs to score.
In the fourth,
Chris Baker drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second and moved over to third on Blain McRay's ground out. With two out and
Robert White at bat, a wild pitch allowed Baker to trot home with the tie-breaking run.
In the McM sixth, Jenkins slapped a leadoff double. Then, with one down, Baker trickled an infield single to shortstop and Jenkins moved up to third. Stokes then stroked a single to left that brought home Jenkins to make it 4-2.
In the top of the ninth, the War Hawks added what would be some needed insurance. Garza had a leadoff double down the leftfield line and the next batter, Crevier, singled through the left side of the infield for the RBI. A UMHB pitching change and one out later, Jenkins stepped up once again and delivered a double to center that drove in Crevier to make it 6-2.
In the bottom of the ninth, McM reliever
Garrett Scudder gave up a leadoff double and then hit a batter. That sent the call for Jenkins to take the mound. Jenkins walked the first man he faced to load the bases. The Cru scored one run on a sacrifice fly and another on a passed ball before Jenkins was able to close down the host UMHB team.
In all, McM amassed 10 hits in the game.
