ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball hosted East Texas Baptist University for a doubleheader Friday evening at Walt Driggers Field, where the Tigers swept the War Hawks, 8-1, and 8-4.

The teams will conclude the series Saturday at 1 p.m.

East Texas Baptist 8, McMurry 1

The Tigers (7-5) scored single runs in the first and second to take an early lead, and then tacked on six runs in the fifth and sixth to break the game open.

After ETBU took the early 2-0 lead, McMurry got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by shortstop Payton Stokes. But that would be the only run the War Hawks (5-7) could push across in game one.

ETBU scored twice in the fifth, and then tallied four in the top of the sixth for the final margin.

Junior right-hander J.T. Barnes suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings.

Stokes and outfielder Mike Gonzales led the War Hawks at the plate with two hits each.

East Texas Baptist 8, McMurry 4

The visiting Tigers hit home runs in their first two at bats of the game as they swept the War Hawks.  

McMurry got back within 2-1 once again, when catcher Reed Hodges scored outfielder Josh Burnett on a sacrifice fly to left.

But the Tigers' bats struck again in the fourth, scoring on an error and sac fly before tallying a two-run homer in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. They would add one more in the eighth, stretching their lead to 8-1.

The War Hawks responded with a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by outfielder Josh Jimenez, and had one final rally in the ninth.

Pinch hitter Sam Hillyer drove in a run with an RBI single and Gonzales added an RBI single, as well, before Jimenez was retired on a fielder's choice to end the game.

Righty Juan Valadez pitched five innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits while racking up two strikeouts in the loss.

Gonzales and Burnett each totaled two hits and a run, with Gonzales also contributing an RBI.