ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University baseball team capped the 2018 season with a doubleheader loss to crosstown foe Hardin-Simmons University – 4-3 and 5-3 – at Walt Driggers Field. The War Hawks closed the books on 2018 with a record of 13-25 overall and 7-17 in the American Southwest Conference.
McMurry also said farewell to the nine seniors on the roster, who closed out their respective careers versus the Cowboys. The members of the senior class of 2018 included: Benjamin Russell,
Chase Bledsoe,
Aaron Donald,
Noah Clarkson,
Kevin Garza,
Taylor Ward,
Rody Johnson,
Tyler Jenkins and
Chris Baker.
In game one, Donald got the nod as the starter for the first time this season. Making 14 other appearances out of the bullpen, Donald went 4.1 solid innings, scattering four hits. He was charged with two runs, just one earned, and had two strikeouts.
Donald was relieved by
Stephen Norrell in the fifth inning.
Jack Poe (3-6) was called on in the seventh and took the loss after HSU's late rally.
The Cowboys sauntered out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third. That score stood until the fifth, when the War Hawks took the lead after a three-run homer by Baker made it 3-2. HSU would tie the game with a single run in the sixth and plated the winning run in the top of the seventh.
Jordan Speck and Clarkson had the hot bats in game one. Speck went 3-for-4, while Clarkson was 2-fro-3. Clarkson, Jenkins and
Nick Hamel each had a double in the loss.
In game two, Russell threw an impressive 7.0 innings, but did not figure in the decision. Russell closed out his college career by allowing just one earned run, while striking out four (with one walk). He gave up seven of the Cowboys' 14 hits.
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the second, McMurry used three walks issued by HSU starter chandler Carter – sandwiched around a base hit from Garza – for two runs. McM made it 3-1 in the third when Baker launched his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot to lead off the inning.
A four-run eighth was enough to give the visiting HSU team the win, 5-3.
Blaine McRay was the only War Hawk with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
