ALPINE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball was swept in an American Southwest Conference doubleheader Saturday, falling 4-0 and 9-4 at Sul Ross State University.
McMurry will be on the road Tuesday for a return visit to Dallas Christian College at 2 p.m. The War Hawks defeated the Crusaders 9-1 on February 20 at Walt Driggers Field.
Sul Ross 4, McMurry 0
The War Hawks (6-14, 0-6) were shut out in game one of the doubleheader. Sul Ross scored single runs in the second and third innings, and added two in the sixth for the four-run win.
Freshman right-hander Derek Hostas was on the mound for all six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out three.
Junior third baseman Sam Hillyer had two of McMurry's five hits, including a double.
McMurry had two runners on in both the first and third, and had runners reach third in the third and sixth, but was unable to drive in the runs.
Sul Ross 9, McMurry 4
McMurry jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the nightcap, but the Lobos (9-9, 5-1 ASC) scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth and held on for the victory.
The War Hawks got a run back in the fifth on an RBI single by senior left fielder Matthew Chalk, but Sul Ross answered with a run of their own and added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings.
Getting on the board first, McMurry scored run number one on an RBI single by Hillyer, followed by senior catcher Blaine McRay scoring on a double play as the War Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
McMurry would add to their early lead in the third, as senior second baseman Jordan Speck hit his second home run of the season.
However, the Lobos answered with five runs on a pair of homers in the fourth to take the lead, and held off the War Hawks, who put runners in scoring position in each of the sixth through ninth innings without scoring.
Speck had three hits with two runs and an RBI from the leadoff spot, and Hillyer collected three more hits with an RBI, as well. Chalk had the final RBI and two hits, while McRay tallied a hit and a run scored.
Junior Chris Lewis took the loss on the mound, allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out four.
