MARSHALL, Texas – The McMurry University softball team scored first, but it was the No. 12-ranked East Texas Baptist University team that scored more often, in an 11-2 American Southwest Conference game at Taylor Field. The War Hawks (10-24, 6-17 ASC) were swept in the three-game series to the nationally-ranked Tigers (27-7, 20-4 ASC).
 
Things got off to a hopeful start for McMurry, as Ashley McClellan and Rachel Ripley opened the game with back-to-back singles, with both runners moving up on a sacrifice bunt by Nina Hernandez. Kayla Otis then lifted a foul ball that was caught by the ETBU secondbaseman, allowing McClellan to scamper home on a sacrifice fly and Ripley to go to third. Summer Quiroga then slapped an RBI single up the middle to plate Ripley, making it 2-0.
 
But that would be the sum total of the War Hawks' offensive total for the game.
 
The Tigers wasted little time pouncing on McM starter Cheyenne West (4-10). The first five ETBU batters reached and West was able to retire only one batter before being lifted. West was charged with six runs, with the Tigers getting a three-run and a two-run homer in their first at-bats.
 
Kamwren Jackson came on in relieve to get the final two outs of the first. However, in the second inning, she also fell prey to the Tigers' bats, allowing a grand slam home run. ETBU added a single run in the third to make it 11-2 and ending the game in the fifth on the run rule.
 
In all, McM batters had four hits (compared to nine by ETBU).  Joining McClellan, Ripley and Quiroga with hits in the game was Lexi De La Cruz, who had a second-inning single.
 
The War Hawks will host the University of Texas-Dallas in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, at Red Bud Park. The series will be the McMurry's final home games of its inaugural softball season.