ABILENE, Texas – McMurry Baseball will play its first midweek game of the season on Tuesday, as the War Hawks play host to Austin College at 5 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field.
The War Hawks (2-6-1, 0-3 American Southwest Conference) will look to get back on track after a tough three-game road series at the Ozarks. The Maroon and White will look to slow down Austin College (3-1), as the 'Roos ride a three-game win streak into Tuesday's single game showdown.
LIVE STATS l LIVE VIDEO l TWITTER
NOTES:
LAST TIME OUT – The War Hawks were unable to secure a win in its first American Southwest Conference series of the season last weekend, as the Ozarks completed the three-game sweep. The series finale was as close at McMurry got to a win, falling 13-12 via an 11th inning walk-off single. McMurry overcame an 11-6 deficit with six straight runs in the late innings, but Ozarks scored in the bottom of the ninth to tie and later won in the 11th.
SCOUTING THE 'ROOS – Austin College owns a 3-1 record this season, including a 2-1 win over the Ozarks and a doubleheader sweep of Arlington Baptist last Tuesday in Arlington. The Kangaroos were paced by Hagan Vrazel in the doubleheader last week, as he finished 5-for-8 at the plate with a triple, a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Culp pitched 5.0 scoreless innings for one of the wins, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts.
SERIES HISTORY – McMurry owns a 29-3 record in the all-time series. The 29 wins are the sixth-most for McMurry against any one opponent all-time, and the second most wins against a non-conference opponent, trailing only Schreiner at 42 all-time wins. Austin College won the last meeting in 2018, 16-9. Prior to 2018, the teams met last in 2009, with McMurry winning 11-3 at Driggers Field.
MORE TRIPLES – Last year, McMurry finished with four triples all season. In just the first six games of this year, McMurry totaled seven triples. The program record for triples in a season is 19, set in 2005. Catcher Reed Hodges leads the way with two triples on the campaign.
SAM I AM – Junior utility player Sam Hillyer has brought the offense for McMurry this season, leading the starting lineup with a .389/.542/.778 slash line. He is batting 14-for-36 with three homers, one triple, three doubles, eight walks, eight runs and 12 RBI this season. He had the game-winning homer in McMurry's last home game, crushing a 16th inning walk-off homer.
CARNAHAN HEATING UP – Junior Marty Carnahan has been McMurry's hottest hitter of late, now leading the team with a .400 batting average in 20 at-bats. In six starts, he has eight hits – four of which are extra-base hits – and six RBI. He has three doubles and hit a grand slam against St. Thomas two weeks ago. The junior has also stolen five bases in five attempts, tied with Javier Rosa for the team lead.
PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF – Sophomore Derek Hostas ended last season with a complete game victory, allowing just one unearned run and three hits against the Ozarks. He carried that momentum into the 2020 opener, twirling 5.0 innings with just one hit and two runs allowed…one of which was unearned. He owns a 1.80 ERA heading into conference play.
BYINGTON BACK ON THE BENCH – Long-time McMurry skipper John Byington is one of the ASC's longest tenured coaches, as he enters his 12th season at the helm. The former Texas A&M standout also spent 10 years prior as an assistant coach, making this season his 22nd overall with the program.
LEE IS BACK – One of McMurry Baseball's all-time greats made his return to campus as an assistant coach this offseason, as Byington added Josh Lee to his staff back in August. Lee was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2004 following an All-American, an ASC Player of the Year and ASC Championship campaign as a utility player.
SILVER ANNIVERSARY – After a 47-year hiatus, McMurry Baseball restored its program in 1996 and will now enter its 25th season of modern era baseball. In that span, the War Hawks have celebrated four American Southwest Conference Championships and four NCAA Regional appearances in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2008.
SEEKING A RETURN TO PROMINENCE – The War Hawks hold an all-time modern record of 577-483-3 for a 54.2 winning percentage. McMurry's tie with Schreiner this year marks just the third draw since 1996. McMurry will look for their first winning season since 2015, where the team finished 31-13 overall and made a four-game run in the National Christian College Athletic Association Central Region tournament as an independent.
