ABILENE, Texas – Junior catcher Kelsey Ahart hit a pair of two-run homers, including the game winner in the bottom of the sixth, as McMurry Softball secured a series sweep with an 8-7 win over University of the Ozarks Saturday at Edwards Field.
After the Eagles (1-6, 0-3 ASC) scored twice in the top of the sixth for a 7-5 lead, the War Hawks (6-1, 3-0 ASC) responded once more as they had done all afternoon. Junior third baseman Emily Michki brought the War Hawks within one wither her second RBI of the game, this time on a double.
In stepped Ahart, who lined a two-run shot down the left field line for her second home run of the day and third of the season for the 8-7 lead.
Junior pitcher Bekah Chance then made her first appearance of the season in the circle, and worked around an error to earn the save.
McMurry fell behind 4-0 after the top half of the first inning. Sophomore pitcher Madison Morgan replaced starter Nicole Pinney after a third of an inning, and proceeded to pitch 5.2 innings in relief.
Morgan allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out one. Morgan was able to limit the Eagle offense while the McM lineup started to heat up. She was credited with the win in the circle.
The War Hawks cut into the early Ozarks lead in the bottom of the first scoring one run on an RBI single by junior designated player Cayleigh England. McM pulled within 4-3 in the third when Ahart blasted her first two-run homer of the afternoon.
Ozarks added another run in the fourth, but McMurry tied it at 5-5 after an RBI double by junior second baseman Savannah Flinn and an RBI single by Michki.
Ahart's home run in the sixth gave McMurry its only lead of the game.
Michki and Ahart each went 3-for4 at the plate with a pair of runs, while Ahart drove in four and Michki two. Flinn and England had the other two RBIs. Flinn also scored twice. England gave McM a trio of hitters to go 3-for-4 at the dish, while sophomore Camille Scott came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with a run scored.
McMurry is off to its best start through seven games in its short three-year history.
The War Hawks will play their first games away from Edwards Field next weekend, visiting UT Dallas for a three game American Southwest Conference series February 28-29.
