DALLAS, Texas – McMurry University Baseball snapped its seven-game losing streak Tuesday afternoon, slugging their way past Dallas Christian College in a nonconference matchup, 17-13.
The War Hawks (7-14) pounded out 17 hits and hit three home runs, scoring their most runs since April 14, 2017 against Howard Payne, when they scored 20.
Trailing 1-0 after the first inning after stranding runners on second and third in the first, the McMurry bats woke up in the second, as the War Hawks scored five times in the frame. Second baseman Javier Rosa drove in the first run with a single with the second run scoring on a fielder's choice by Jordan Speck.
Left fielder Matthew Chalk capped the five-run inning with the first of his two home runs, a three run shot that was just inside the left field foul pole. Chalk hit his second home run in the fourth, a two-run blast that followed a Speck single to give the War Hawks an 8-2 lead.
However, the Crusaders answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to get back within 8-6.
McMurry would score three more in the fifth, when Speck delivered a two-run single to right center before getting caught in a rundown allowing the third run to score.
The teams would then trade grand slams, as the Crusaders would hit one in the bottom of the fifth with third baseman Sam Hillyer clearing the bases in the sixth with a blast to left field.
The War Hawks' offense wasn't done yet, scoring twice more in the seventh on a two-run double by senior catcher Blaine McRay. The double allowed the War Hawks to score in four straight innings, as they scored 12 times in the four frames.
Dallas Christian scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but the War Hawks shut the door in the final two innings to preserve the win.
Right-hander Jack Poe got the win in relief, tossing a perfect sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts. Hunter Brooks and Devin Molina closed out the game in the eighth and ninth innings.
Speck and Chalk led the offense with four hits apiece, with each scoring three times, as well. Speck finished with four RBIs and Chalk with five. McRay collected a pair of hits, driving in two and scoring twice. Hillyer and right fielder Marty Carnahan also tallied two hits, with Hillyer scoring twice and driving in all four of his runs on the home run.
The War Hawks resume American Southwest Conference play Friday when they visit Hardin-Simmons for the first of a three-game series. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
