SAN ANTONIO, Texas – McMurry University senior – and former Cooper High School Cougar –
Tyler Jenkins pitched the game of a lifetime, besting Trinity University - the No. 1-ranked team in the nation for NCAA Division III – by a 3-1 score on the road. It was the War Hawks' (12-23) first win over the Tigers (32-5) since the 2015 season.
How good was Jenkins, you ask? Normally the War Hawks' everyday firstbaseman, Jenkins was making just his third start (and ninth appearance) from the mound in 2018. Jenkins responded with the complete-game win, permitting seven hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Jenkins' (2-3) virtuoso effort was the first nine-inning complete-game effort for a McM hurler in three years. Mitch Labbie threw nine complete innings on March 28, 2015 in a 6-2 win over Schreiner University. But Jenkins' outing had that special asterisk of coming against the top-ranked team in the country.
Before Jenkins even delivered a pitch, McM picked up a pair of runs to light up the scoreboard in the top of the first inning.
Mike Gonzales drew a leadoff walk and, with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then with two down,
Chris Baker stepped up to the plate for McMurry.
Baker worked the count to 2-2. On the next offering, Baker deposited the ball over the leftfield fence for a two-run home run, his third round-tripper of the season. The Tigers would get a run back in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1.
In the top of the eighth, McM tacked on another run for Jenkins. With one down,
Nick Hamel and
Blaine McRay had back-to-back singles and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt. With two out,
Payton Stokes slammed a double off the left-centerfield fence to make it 3-1.
But the way Jenkins way throwing, he had plenty of cushion after Baker's first-inning blast. After giving up three hits - and the Tigers' lone run - in the first, Jenkins was virtually untouchable. Over the final eight innings, he scattered four hits and allowed just three TU players to even get into scoring position. He retired the side in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh frames.
McMurry out-hit TU by a 10-7 margin. Stokes and Hamel had the hot bats, each going 3-for-4. Stokes had the RBI and Hamel scored once.
The War Hawks (12-23) will close out the 2018 campaign this weekend at home versus crosstown foe Hardin-Simmons University. The War Hawks and cowboys will play a single game on Friday evening at 7 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader (1 p.m.) at Walt Driggers Field.
