GEORGETOWN, Texas – McMurry University Baseball played their third doubleheader of the year at Southwestern University Sunday, and the War Hawks came away with their third split of the year. McMurry took game one, 8-1, before dropping game two, 5-2.
The War Hawks return home next weekend to host East Texas Baptist at Walt Driggers Field. Game one of the series is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
McMurry 8, Southwestern 1
Right-hander J.T. Barnes was strong once again, tossing all seven innings, and the War Hawks (5-5) scored five runs in the sixth inning for the win.
Barnes allowed just one run on five hits, striking out five for the complete game win. Barnes has now won all three of his starts this season. He has allowed just one run in each of those starts.
McMurry broke the game open with five runs in the sixth, when second baseman Jordan Speck got the scoring started with an RBI single. The next batter, outfielder Mike Gonzales, doubled in a pair to give the War Hawks a 6-0 lead.
Gonzales would come around to score on a Pirate error, and designated hitter Sam Hillyer capped the five-run frame with an RBI single.
The War Hawks took the lead in the fifth, when Gonzales delivered an RBI single and Hillyer followed three batters later with a two-run double.
Gonzales and Hillyer each drove in three runs, with Gonzales collecting three hits and scoring two runs. Hillyer and shortstop Payton Stokes each had two hits, while outfielder Matthew Chalk scored twice, as well.
Southwestern 5, McMurry 2
The Pirates (4-2) scored four runs over the first two innings and held off the War Hawks to split the doubleheader.
McMurry got two runs back in the fifth on an RBI double by Stokes and an RBI single by outfielder Josh Jimenez, but the Pirates tacked on an insurance run in the eighth to fend off any McMurry rally.
Catcher Blaine McRay had three hits, including two doubles, but was stranded on both extra base hits. He scored the first McMurry run on the Stokes double. Jimenez had two hits, as well.
On the mound, righty Juan Valadez suffered the loss after giving up four runs on three hits in 3.1 innings. He struck out five, and McMurry relievers combined with Valadez to strike out 10 Pirates on the afternoon.
