ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball was swept in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Hardin-Simmons University, dropping game one, 9-8, in extra innings before falling in the nightcap, 5-1.
The War Hawks return to Walt Driggers Field next weekend to host the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in a three-game American Southwest Conference series.
Hardin-Simmons 9, McMurry 8 (8 inn.)
The Cowboys (11-11, 7-5 ASC) hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the eighth to steal the game one victory from the War Hawks (7-17, 0-9 ASC).
McMurry took an 8-7 lead in the top of the fifth on a home run by designated hitter Justin Kutz, but the Cowboys tied it in the bottom half before the game-winning home run in the eighth.
In the fourth inning, left fielder Matthew Chalk hit a two-run homer as well, giving McMurry a 6-4 advantage. However, once again, HSU had an answer as they scored three times to regain the lead.
Both teams traded four run innings for the second straight game, as the War Hawks scored four times in the top of the third after the Cowboys scored four in the bottom of the second. Chalk, right fielder Mike Gonzales and catcher Blaine McRay all had RBI singles in the frame, with Kutz driving in the tying run on a double.
The War Hawks had a runner reach second in the top of the eighth, but he was left stranded after an inning ending groundout.
Chalk led McMurry at the plate with three hits, three RBIs and two runs, while Kutz joined him in driving in three on a pair of hits, as well. Second baseman Jordan Speck tallied a hit with two runs scored.
Devin Molina took the tough-luck loss, allowing just the one run in 2.1 innings. He had not allowed a hit until the home run.
Hardin-Simmons 5, McMurry 1
McMurry took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but yet another four-run inning by the Cowboys in the bottom half was enough to top the War Hawks for the sweep.
Chalk doubled with two outs in the third, and would then score when Gonzales reached on a throwing error for McMurry's only run of the game.
The Cowboys answered with a four run frame in the bottom of the third, and added an insurance run in the fifth for the 5-1 win.
Chalk collected two of McMurry's five hits in game two. Chris Lewis started on the mound for the War Hawks, allowing five runs, four earned, with a pair of strikeouts over five innings.
