ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball dropped its series opener with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Friday night, falling 7-3 at Walt Driggers Field.

The Crusaders (7-18, 2-8 ASC) broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning, and then added three insurance runs with a single tally in the seventh and a pair in the ninth.

McMurry got one run in the bottom of the ninth, but it turned out to be too little, too late. The War Hawks (7-18, 0-10 ASC) made a push in the seventh inning, putting runners on second and third with one out after a double by third baseman Sam Hillyer. However, the inning ended with a popout and strikeout.

Both teams traded runs in the first and fourth innings. After a home run in the top of the first, McMurry answered in the bottom half with an RBI single by Hillyer. McM responded to UMHB's run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly by left fielder Matthew Chalk.

Cactcher Blaine McRay drove in the final run in the ninth on a groundout.

Right fielder Mike Gonzales, shortstop Payton Stokes, center fielder Josh Burnett and Hillyer all finished with two hits, with Gonzales and Hillyer each tallying a double.

Right-hander Jack Poe got the start for the War Hawks on the mound, allowing five runs on nine hits over 6.1 innings while striking out three.

McMurry concludes its series with the Cru Saturday at noon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.