ABILENE, Texas – A seventh inning rally forced a late tie, but McMurry University Baseball was unable to complete the comeback at crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons University Friday night, dropping the American Southwest Conference series opener, 10-8.
Down 6-2 entering the top of the seventh, the War Hawks (7-15, 0-7 ASC) mounted a rally to tie the game. The first four batters reached in the inning, with the first run of the frame coming on an RBI single by second baseman Jordan Speck.
Following a sacrifice fly by right fielder Mike Gonzales, catcher Blaine McRay delivered a two out, game-tying two-run double down the left field line. McRay advanced to third on a single by third baseman Sam Hillyer, but was left stranded after a foul out.
However, the Cowboys (9-11, 5-5 ASC) had their second big inning of the night, scoring four unearned runs of their own in the bottom half of the seventh.
McMurry would mount one final rally in the ninth, scoring twice on a Gonzales RBI double and Gonzales coming around to score on a throwing error. They would later load the bases, but the tying run was left stranded at second.
The War Hawks struck first in the opening frame, scoring on an RBI groundout by left fielder Matthew Chalk after Speck doubled to lead off and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
But after the run in the first inning, the Cowboys struck for six runs in the bottom of the first to break the game open.
McMurry would score another single run in the top of the second, when Hillyer singled in Stokes after he doubled to lead off the inning. The teams would remain scoreless until the seventh inning War Hawk rally.
Hillyer, Gonzales and McRay each tallied two hits, with Gonzales and McRay adding two RBIs. Speck stayed hot at the plate, collecting three hits with an RBI and three runs scored.
Jack Poe came on in relief of starter J.T. Barnes in the second inning, and kept the Cowboys off the board until the seventh. He struck out three and allowed four runs, all unearned. Hunter Brooks threw the final 1.1 of scoreless relief.
The War Hawks and Cowboys will finish the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
