ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University softball enjoyed another historic day in its brief existence, after registering its first-ever win, 9-8, over Southwestern University in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader at Red Bud Park. The War Hawks (1-3) dropped the front end of the twinbill, 13-4, to the Pirates (1-1).
 
Leading the way in the team's first "W" was junior firstbaseman Rachel Ripley. Ripley drove in five runs in the contest, the big blow coming in the second innings with a grand slam home run. Ripley's blast was also the first homer in War Hawks' history, as well.
 
Ripley's blast tied the game at 6-6, after the Pirates had pushed across three runs in each of their first two at-bats. Ripley also had an RBI single in the first.
 
Pitcher Crystal Peebles (1-1) – who had a rough outing in the team's opener versus Trinity one week ago – settled in nicely after the first two frames and gave McM head coach David McNally five innings of work. Peebles was charged with eight runs, but just five of those were earned after three War Hawks errors on defense. But that effort was more than enough, thanks to the offense behind her.
 
McMurry added a run in the third after Sarah Nagy drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch that made it 7-6. Then in the fourth McM plated the runs which would prove to be the difference.
 
Catcher Kayla Otis opened with a walk. Summer Quiroga and Nagy slapped back-to-back singles, with Otis scoring on a throwing error. Adrienne Nairn and Lexi De La Cruz drew back-to-back walks to force home Quiroga with what would prove to be the deciding run.
 
Peebles was touched up for two runs in the fifth, drawing Southwestern to within a single run, 9-8. McNally called on Cheyenne West – his game one started and only other pitcher available due to injury and illness – took over duties in the circle to open the sixth. West responded with two shutout innings to preserve the victory and earn the first save in the War Hawks' recordbook.
 
Nagy went 2-for-3 with an RBI to join Ripley as the only other War Hawk with multiple hits.
 
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Pirates pounded out 17 hits in their 13-4 win. West took the loss, going 4.1 innings. Peebles tossed 2.2 innings.
 
 Leadoff hitter Ashley McClellan was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Number two batter Avery McDaniel was also 2-for-4.  Ripley and Quiroga each drove in a run in the loss.
 
"I am very proud of the way our ladies responded," McNally said. "We are constantly learning and improving. But most importantly, we battled back when things got tough and that shows me the true heart of this team. We had lots of 'victories' - both physical and mental – out there tonight."