ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball took on UT Dallas to open a three game series at Walk Driggers Field on Friday night, falling 9-2 in its American Southwest Conference home opener.

The War Hawks (2-8-1, 0-4 ASC) matched the Comets (7-3, 4-0 ASC) with nine hits on the day, but UTD utilized three extra-base hits, three sacrifice flys and four stolen bases to help its run production. McMurry finished with nine singles.

The Comets never scored more than two runs in one innings, scattering runs in the first, third, fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. The War Hawks began to rally a bit in the eighth with two runs, but a fielder's choice groundout with two runners on ended the threat.

The McMurry bats broke through when freshman Cole Riser ripped a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Trent Lee. The very next at-bat, senior Justin Kutz singled to center field to bring home Reed Hodges. Kutz earned just his fourth start of the season, making his first appearance since Feb. 14.

Blake Birdwell (2-1) earned the win for UTD with 7.1 innings pitched, allowing the two runs on six hits. Marty Carnahan (0-2) started for the War Hawks and limited most of the damage, but was tagged with the decision after giving up four runs. Only one of the four runs was earned.

Seth Parriette entered in the fifth inning in a tight spot, as the bases were full with one out. The sophomore used just four pitches to end the threat, picking up a three-pitch strikeout and a flyout to work out of the jam.

Riser, Hodges and junior Kyle Keever each finished with two hits to lead McMurry.

Pitchers of record:

W – Blake Birdwell (2-1)

L – Marty Carnahan (0-2)

S – None

The series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader.