ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball was topped in its American Southwest Conference opener, falling 5-2 to LeTourneau University Friday night at Walt Driggers Field.

Trailing 4-0 for most of the game, the War Hawks (6-9, 0-1 ASC) tallied a pair of runs in the eighth inning. After the first two batters reached on a walk and a double, McMurry scored its first run when designated hitter Blaine McRay reached on a throwing error by the YellowJacket second baseman, allowing Xavier Hughey to score.

The next batter, first baseman Nick Hamel, made it 4-2 with a sacrifice fly to right scoring outfielder Mike Gonzales.

LeTourneau got a pair of runs in both the first and third innings off of starter J.T. Barnes, but Barnes settled down to keep the YellowJackets (8-6, 3-1 ASC) off the scoreboard for his remaining 3.1 innings on the mound. Barnes allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits over 6.1 innings as he suffered his second loss of the year.

The YellowJackets added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, and after a brief delay in the bottom ninth after the lights went out, the War Hawks were retired in order.

McMurry got runners to third base in both the second and sixth, but each time the runner was left stranded.

McRay led the War Hawks with two hits and drove in a run, while Gonzales finished with one hit and a run scored.

The War Hawks and YellowJackets are back in action tomorrow for an ASC doubleheader at Walt Driggers Field with first pitch at 1 p.m.