ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's softball team out-hit the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor but, in the end, lost a hard-fought game, 4-3, at Red Bud Park.  The War Hawks (3-13, 1-8 ASC) were swept in the three-game series by the Crusaders (11-4, 6-3 ASC).
 
As opposed to the first two games of the series – where the McM starting pitching was suspect – the War Hawks got a strong effort out of both starter Cheyenne West and reliever Kamwren Jackson.  West went 5.0 innings, scattering five hits and three runs (only two of which were earned). She struck out two and walked two.
 
Jackson (0-5) was also solid, until she needed just one more out. Jackson entered the game in the sixth and retired five-consecutive batters. Then, with two out in the seventh, Jackson issued a walk, hit a batter and gave up an RBI single that would plate the deciding run before getting the final out.
 
Also unlike Friday's twinbill, McMurry's batters kept things close and responded immediately after the Crusaders tallied a pair of runs in the second. With one out in the bottom of the frame, shortstop Avery McDaniel slapped a single up the middle and took second on a ground out. Adrienne Nairn promptly pounded a basehit to left that drove in McDaniel to make it 2-1.
 
Just one inning later, McM was able to move on top of the Crusaders. Leadoff hitter Ashley McClellan and firstbaseman Rachel Ripley opened with back-to-back singles, with both advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Nina Hernandez.
 
With runners at second and third, designated player Kayla Otis lined a sharp single to left that scored McClellan. After a pop-up to first for the second out of the inning, Summer Quiroga singled up the middle to drive in Ripley with the go-ahead run, 3-2.
 
UMHB scored an unearned run in the fifth to knot the game at 3-3, before posting the winning run in the seventh.
 
McMurry amassed a total of nine hits, compared to six for UMHB. Otis and Quiroga both went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Also unlike Friday's doubleheader – in which the War Hawks had a combined five errors – McM was sparkling with the leather. Quiroga, Nairn, McClellan and all made defensive gems that kept UMHB from adding more runs.
 
McMurry will next be in action on Tuesday (March 13), hosting Hardin-Simmons University in a single game at Red Bud Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.