ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University baseball team split an American Southwest Conference doubleheader versus Howard Payne University, losing the opener, 5-2, and winning a landslide victory in game two, 20-1, at Walt Driggers Field. The War Hawks (12-22, 6-12 ASC) had their biggest offensive output of the year in the second game win over the Yellow Jackets (17-13, 10-8 ASC).
 
In the opener, McM managed just two hits versus HPU. However, the War Hawks still kept matters close.  McM had a 1-0 lead after two innings, thanks to an unearned run, but the Yellow Jackets rallied for two in the top of the third.
 
McMurry catcher Blaine McRay his second solo homerun in as many games, to knot matters at 2-2 in the fourth.
 
But the Jackets added a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to chase War Hawks' starter John Eric Cortez (2-5). Cortez went 5.2 innings and gave up eight of HPU's 12 hits. He was charged with all five earned runs, striking out six and walking three.
 
Besides McRay's blast, the War Hawks' only other hit was a fourth inning single by Kevin Garza.
 
It was role reversal – and then some – in game two, as McMurry starter Juan Valadez (4-4) dominated the Yellow Jackets over his six-inning stint. Valadez went 6.0 innings and scattered three hits, not permitting a run until the top of the sixth inning of the run-rule shortened, seven-inning game.
 
The War Hawks strung together four big innings to run up the big tally.  McM put four on the board in the second, seven in the third, five in the fifth and added four in the sixth.  The hosts sent 12 men to bat in the third frame and 11 in the fifth.
 
McM collected 17 hits and 13 runs batted in, both season-best marks for the squad, as well.
 
Junior Kevin Garza became the 19th player in War Hawks' history to go 5-for-5 in a game, tying the school record for hits.  Garza had a triple and homerun, scoring three times.  He also drove in six runs.
 
Three other War Hawks also had multiple hits.  Tyler Jenkins was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBI.
 
McRay and designated hitter Garrett Hurst both went 2-for-4, scoring two and three runs, respectively. Hurst had a pair of RBI, as well.  Payton Stokes came off the bench and delivered a 2-for-3 day, scoring three times, walking once and driving in two runs.