IRVING, Texas -  McMurry University's softball team split its non-conference doubleheader at the University of Dallas, winning the opener, 10-5, in eight innings and losing the nightcap, 11-6, at Crusaders Field. The War Hawks now sport an overall record of 5-17, while the Crusaders are 5-13 on the year.
 
In game one, McM secondbaseman Nina Hernandez made McMurry history by becoming the first-ever War Hawk player to hit for the cycle, and even managed to do so in order! After grounding out in the first, Hernandez singled in the fourth, doubled in the fifth, tripled in the seventh and smacked a home run in the eighth. She was 4-for-5 with two runs scores and three runs batted in.
 
But things looked bleak for McMurry early in the contest.  The Crusaders got to War Hawks' starter Cheyenne West for two runs each in the first and third innings, as well as a single run in the fourth when West gave up three-straight hits to open the inning.
 
McM head coach David McNally then summoned Kamwren Jackson (1-7) from the bullpen to take over in the pitching circle, inheriting a 5-0 deficit. Jackson responded by retiring the side. 
 
Jackson had a dominating effort, throwing 5.0 innings of shutout ball and scattering four hits. She faced just two batters over the minimum in keeping the UD bats quiet the balance of the game to pick up her first win of the season.
 
Jackson got plenty of offensive support during her stint, as well. In the last five innings, McM smacked out 13 of the team's season-high 15-hit attack. The assault started with a four-run fourth, keyed by an RBI single from Summer Quiroga and RBI double from Hernandez.
 
In the top of the seventh, the War Hawks knotted the game at 5-5 after Avery McDaniel reached on a fielder's choice and - following a single to center by Lexi De La Cruz and an error in the outfield – came around to score.
 
That sent the game into the extra frame. Using the International Tie-Breaker Rule, Adrienne Nairn was placed at second to start the at-bats. Eva Pourcio single to center and Sarah Nagy walked to load the bases. Leadoff hitter Ashley McClellan lined into a double play that also erased Nairn at third.
 
With first and second runners and two out, Quiroga ripped a triple to rightfield that drove in pinch-runner Krysta Winegeart and Nagy. Rachel Ripley single up the middle to easily plate Quiroga. That brought up Hernandez, who completed her cycle with a two-run homer to left, giving the War Hawks a 10-5 cushion.
 
Jackson had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eight to close out the victory of McM.
 
Quiroga and Ripley both went 3-for-5 in the game. Pourcio was 3-for-4. Ripley and Pourcio each scored twice, while Ripley drove in three runs.
 
Game two again saw the War Hawks claw back from an early deficit.  Down 3-0 after one inning, McM got a run back in the second on a Ripley RBI single to make it 3-1. 
 
In the third, McMurry erupted for five runs and sent eight batters to the plate. Ripley's three-run triple put her team on top, 6-3. 
 
But the lead proved not to be safe, as the Crusaders tallied seven runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning, charged against game two starter West (2-7), to take the 10-6 lead. Jackson came on in relief, also allowing a run for the 11-6 final score.
 
The War Hawks had five players – McClellan, Ripley, Quiroga, Nairn and De La Cruz – all collect two hits apiece. Ripley drove in four runs and De La Cruz the other.
 
Ripley also had her team's lone extra-base hit among the 11 for the War Hawks, a bases-loaded triple in the third.  Conversely, the Crusaders had eight extra-base knocks out of their 14 hits, including four-consecutive triples in their big fifth frame.
 
McMurry will return to action this weekend, hosting a three-game series versus Belhaven University at Red Bud Park. The teams will play a single game Friday (4 p.m.) and a Saturday doubleheader (12 p.m.).