BROWNWOOD, Texas – Junior Rachel Ripley slapped three doubles to lead the McMurry University softball team's 5-3 come-from-behind win at Howard Payne University.  The War Hawks (10-21, 6-15 ASC) win moved the team to a double-digit victory total in its inaugural season.
 
By topping the Lady Jackets (8-21, 5-16 ASC), McMurry also won its second series of the season. The War Hawks also won two-of-three versus Belhaven University.
 
In spite of Ripley's big day at the plate, McM still needed some late-inning heroics to put the game in the "W" column.
 
The War Hawks found themselves down 3-0 after the first two innings with starting pitcher Cheyenne West in the circle. In those first two frames, West gave up five of the eight hits she would allow, as well as the only runs of the day for HPU. After allowing a one-out double in the third, West retired the next 11 batters she faced.
 
Meanwhile, as West got ice in her veins, Ripley's bat got red hot. Ripley doubled in the first, but was eventually stranded at third. With two out in the third, Ashley McClellan reached on an error by the Lady Jackets thirdbaseman and came around to score on a Ripley double to left that made it 3-1.
 
McM added an unearned run in the fifth to inch closer. Adrienne Nairn was hit by a pitch to open the inning, with the next two batters retired.  With two down, McClellan reached on an error by the pitcher and then two-consecutive walks forced pinch-runner Sarah Nagy in, 3-2.
 
Heading into the seventh and final inning, the War Hawks still trailed by one. Catcher Lexi De La Cruz led off with a single through the right side and pinch-hitter Belle Gomez also singled, for first and second runners.
 
McClellan flew out to left, bringing Ripley to the plate. As if on cue, Ripley drove the ball into the right-centerfield gap, scoring both De La Cruz and Gomez to put McM ahead, 4-3.  After a pop out to right, Kayla Otis singled to right-center to drive home Ripley with an insurance run, 5-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Jackets got a leadoff single from Gabrielle Roque. The next batter popped out and pinch-hitter Ferrah Ford singled to bring the potential winning run to the plate with one out. With leadoff hitter Shawneece Jones at the plate, McM's De La Cruz caught Ford straying off the bag, rifling the ball to Ripley for the pickoff and second out. Jones then flew out to center to end the game and secure the War Hawks' 10th win of 2018.
 
Ripley finished the day going 3-for-3 – all doubles – and three runs batted in. Ripley scored once and drew a walk. In all, McM collected seven hits as a team.