ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball got another outstanding pitching performance as the War Hawks earned a split with the University of the Ozarks Friday evening at Walt Driggers Field. The Eagles took game one, 6-1, while the War Hawks captured the nightcap, 4-1.
The War Hawks will honor their seniors prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. season finale against the Eagles.
Ozarks 6, McMurry 1
After scoring an unearned run in the first inning, the Eagles (15-23) added four more in the second for a 5-0 lead. They would extend that lead to 6-0 in the fifth on a sac fly.
McMurry would get their run in the sixth, when designated hitter Justin Kutz drove in a run after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. However, they would leave the bases loaded to end the inning.
The War Hawks (10-28, 3-20 ASC) had runners on second and third in the second, but the inning ended with a groundout. They also put two on in the seventh.
Catcher Blaine McRay and centerfielder Josh Jimenez led McMurry at the plate with two hits apiece. Rightfielder Mike Gonzales tallied a hit and a run scored.
Jack Poe took the loss on the mound, pitching six innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits and struck out two. Only two of the six runs were earned. Joseph Perez pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
McMurry 4, Ozarks 1
Freshman right-hander Derek Hostas threw a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits. It was the first career win for Hostas, as he struck out two without issuing a walk. He did it efficiently, as well, needing just 92 pitches to get through nine innings.
Designated hitter Sam Hillyer provided the spark on offense with a solo home run to left in the second.
After the Eagles tied it up in the top of the sixth on an error, McRay helped McMurry regain the lead with a two-run single up the middle, scoring Gonzales and second baseman Jordan Speck.
Speck would deliver an insurance run in the seventh on a sac fly, scoring third baseman Javier Rosa.
Speck, McRay and Gonzales all finished with two hits in the nightcap. McRay drove in a pair, whileSpeck drove in one and scored once. McMurry pounded out 10 hits on the evening.
