AUSTIN, Texas -  The McMurry University numbers four through six batters each collected a pair of hits, but it was not enough to prevent an 8-3 loss to Concordia University-Texas at Tornado Field. The loss dropped the War Hawks to 6-12 overall and 1-6 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
The Tornados upped their record to 13-6 on the year and 6-1 in the ASC.
 
Number four hitter Nick Hamel was 2-for-3, including his eighth double of the season, and drew a walk. Matthew Chalk, batting in the fifth slot, was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Senior designated hitter Chris Baker was also 2-for-4, lacing his eighth double of 2018, as well, and driving in run.
 
The War Hawks tallied twice in the second inning to take the early lead. Chalk smacked a one-out single to left and went to third on Baker's double to left. Payton Stokes followed with a singles to right that plated Chalk , with Baker stopping at third. With Taylor Ward at the plate, Baker came home on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
 
CUTX tied the game with single runs in the second and third. The Tornados broke open matters with two in the fifth and four in the seventh.
 
McMurry got a run back in the ninth after Tyler Jenkins, Hamel and Chalk loaded the bases with three-straight singles. Baker then hit an infield single to shortstop that drove in Jenkins for the 8-3 final score.
 
Stephen Norrell (0-2) went 5.1 innings in absorbing the loss. Norrell was charged with four runs – just three earned – and scattered eight hits. He had four strikeouts, but walked five Tornados. Chris Lewis led to came on in the sixth and went 1.1 innings, but was the victim of some McM defensive miscues that led to four unearned runs on his .ledger. Michael Bass threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, giving up one hit, in finishing the game for the War Hawks.
 
The two teams will finish up the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday in Austin.