ABILENE, Texas. – Sunday marked a historic moment for the McMurry Softball program, as the War Hawks opened its new on-campus stadium with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Southwestern in front of almost 400 fans at Edwards Field.
Following the first game, McMurry (1-1) and Southwestern (3-1) played the nightcap of the doubleheader. The Pirates led 9-2 at the end of the fifth inning and would go on to earn the win due to a lighting issue at the new stadium. As a result, the teams split the doubleheader.
Prior to the first game, McMurry University Athletics introduced the new stadium with a special first pitch ceremony. Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics Sam Ferguson and Edwards family member Kathi Edwards spoke to the capacity crowd.
The new stadium was named after Kathi and Murray Edwards, who generously helped in the creation of the stadium. Their four-year-old granddaughter, Annie Edwards, threw the first pitch before the contest.
GAME 1 RECAP
Senior pitcher Hope Schoeneman took the circle for McMurry and dueled against Southwestern's Lindsey Longuet. Both pitchers tossed quality starts, giving up just one combined run.
That one run went in favor of the War Hawks and did not come until the bottom of the sixth inning.
McMurry's leadoff hitter, junior Savannah Flinn, hit a one-out single to left field and represented the late go-ahead run. After a groundout moved her into scoring position with two outs, junior Emily Michki stepped in to hit.
Michki lined a single into left-center field, allowing Flinn to cross home on a play at the plate. That run would make the difference, as Schoeneman recorded three straight groundouts to end the contest. The final out was rolled into her circle, as the senior underhand tossed to first for the win.
Schoeneman pitched 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just one walk and five hits. She struck out nine hitters for her first win of the season. Longuet took the loss despite allowing just two hits all game, both of which came in the sixth.
GAME 2 RECAP
McMurry struck first in the nightcap, as it looked to keep the momentum in the home dugout. With two on and one out for Southwestern in the opening frame, junior first baseman Eva Pourcio caught a hard hit liner and tagged first for an instant double play.
The War Hawks wasted no time going to work after the defensive stop, as Flinn hit a leadoff single to net a baserunner. With two outs, junior Kelsey Ahart and freshman Symone Gary each hit infield singles to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore Camille Scott grounded one to the left side. A muffed ball at first base allowed Scott to reach safely and for two runs to score.
Scott was the game's starting pitcher and threw two scoreless innings before Southwestern answered in the third. The Pirates added their runs by bulk with four in the third and five later in the fifth. McMurry used three pitchers in the contest.
As daylight ran out early in the fourth inning, the game relied on stadium lights to continue. Due to issues with the new lighting, the two teams were only able to finish five full innings before the game was called in the top of the sixth.
PITCHERS OF RECORD
Game 1:
W – Hope Schoeneman (1-0)
L – Lindsey Longuet (1-1)
Game 2:
W – Lexi Shafer (2-0)
L – Camille Scott (0-1)
UP NEXT
McMurry will play again on Tuesday, Feb. 18 as they welcome University of the Southwest (New Mexico) to Edwards Field at 2 p.m. for a doubleheader.
