RICHARDSON, Texas – McMurry University Softball scored 11 runs in the top of the fourth inning to defeat the University of Texas at Dallas, 14-8, in American Southwest Conference play at the UTD Softball Field.
The 11 runs are a new program best for a single inning, surpassing the 10 runs scored against Louisiana College in a game last season.
After falling behind 6-0 through three innings, the offense erupted in the top of the fourth. The first two batters reached via a walk and a single before UTD got the first out of the inning.
With two on, sophomore pinch hitter Camille Scott drove in the first McM run with an RBI single. Senior first baseman Eva Pourcio then collected the second of her three hits with another RBI single.
The highlight of the inning came next, as junior pinch hitter Maisa Ryerson delivered a three-run homer down the left field line to pull the War Hawks (7-1, 4-0 ASC) within 6-5.
Two batters later, sophomore pinch hitter Kasey Woolard tied the game on an RBI double to right center, scoring junior second baseman Savannah Flinn. It looked like the Comets (3-9, 1-3 ASC) would get out of the inning, but the UTD leftfielder dropped a fly ball of the bat of senior shortstop Mikayla Krause, causing two runs to score, giving McM an 8-6 advantage.
Senior rightfielder Sarah Nagy kept the line moving with an RBI double down the right field line, and Pourcio capped the inning with her second hit of the inning with a two-run single.
The War Hawks added two more runs in the fifth on a two-run homer by Flinn, and tallied one more insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by freshman catcher Symone Gary.
Freshman Kinleigh Stotts earned the win in her collegiate debut, tossing 2.2 innings in relief of starter Hope Schoeneman. Stotts allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and struck out one.
Junior Bekah Chance once again closed the door for the War Hawks, tossing the final two innings. Chance did not allow a hit or walk while striking out one.
McMurry totaled 17 hits on the afternoon, with eight coming in the 11-run fourth inning. Pourcio and Flinn each tallied three hits, with Pourcio driving in a team-high three runs and Flinn two. Flinn also scored three times.
Juniors Emily Michki and Cayleigh England each had two hits.
The War Hawks and Comets will conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
