ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University's softball team – in its first year of existence – got its first taste of taking on an elite NCAA Division III program, dropping a doubleheader to current No. 3-ranked University of Texas-Tyler at Red Bud Park. In what was also the first-ever American Southwest Conference games for War Hawks' (2-5, 0-2 ASC), the squad lost by scores of 6-4 and 15-0 (five innings) to the Patriots (4-0, 2-0 ASC).
In game one, McMurry's fledgling program found itself in a spot not too many teams have enjoyed: leading the perennial-power Patriots. The War Hawks went on top, 1-0, in the bottom of the third after
Ashley McClellan singled to open the inning, was sacrificed to second and moved over to third on a ground out. With two down, freshman
Kayla Otis (Abilene H.S.) singled past a diving UTT secondbaseman Victoria Gonzales to plate McClellan, 1-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Patriots posted a pair of runs to go on top, 2-1. But the War Hawks knotted it at 2-2 when their turn came up in the same frame.
Sarah Nagy beat out a dribbler back to the circle and was advanced to second via the sacrifice. Catcher
Lexi De La Cruz singled sharply up the middle as Nagy trotted home. A single run by UTT in the top of the fifth made McM's lead short-lived, retaking the advantage, 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, junior firstbaseman
Rachel Ripley singled through the left side of the infield. Otis then crushed an offering from UTT reliever Miranda Leal over he left-field fence and the War Hawks led, 4-3.
But the Patriots could not be kept down. UTT scored twice in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh for the 6-4 final score.
Crystal Peebles (2-2), who came on in relief of starter
Cheyenne West, took the loss for McM.
Otis went 3-for-4 in game one, scoring once and driving in three runs. McClellan and Ripley each went 2-for-4 in the game and scored a run.
In all, the War Hawks banged out 10 hits, compared to eight by the Patriots.
The second game of the day, UTT displayed why it ranks among the elite in NCAA III. The Patriots cranked out 14 hits and held McM to three, while scoring 15 and run-ruling the hosts. Kamren Jackson was charged with the loss for McM.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, with a 12 p.m. game at Red Bud Park.
