RICHARDSON, Texas – McMurry University Softball split a Saturday doubleheader against UT Dallas at the UTD Softball Field, rallying for a 7-5 win and game one before being defeated 5-4 in game two.
The split helped McM take two games in the three game set. McMurry improved to 8-2, 5-1 ASC, while the Comets go to 4-10, 2-4 ASC.
McMurry returns to Edwards Field March 6-7 for a three-game conference series. Friday features a doubleheader with a single game Saturday.
McMurry 7, UT Dallas 5
Junior second baseman Savannah Flinn hit a go-ahead, two-out grand slam in the top of the sixth inning as McMurry scored six times in the frame to erase a 5-0 deficit.
It was the second consecutive game in which the War Hawks came back from at least five runs to take the lead in just a single inning.
McMurry first scored on an RBI groundout by sophomore pitcher Camille Scott, the second out of the inning. The bases were empty, but McM loaded the bases via an error, hit by pitch and a walk.
Prior to Flinn's at bat, freshman catcher Symone Gary kept the inning alive with an RBI single up the middle. Flinn then delivered the game-winning slam to complete the comeback.
McM would add an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by senior first baseman Eva Pourcio.
UTD had taken the five-run lead with three runs in the third and two more in the fifth.
Scott tossed five innings in the circle to collect the win, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks. She tallied 10 of her 15 outs via the strikeout.
Senior Emily Levario saw her first extended action in relief, picking up the save with two scoreless innings. She gave up just one hit and a walk.
At the plate, both Gary and junior third baseman Emily Michki tallied two hits, while Flinn led the way with four RBIs.
UT Dallas 5, McMurry 4
The War Hawks tried to work their come-from-behind magic one more time, but ran out of luck in the series finale.
McM trailed 5-2 entering the seventh inning until junior outfielder Maisa Ryerson hit a two-run homer, scoring Pourcio, who had reached via a single.
The War Hawks then placed the go-ahead run on second with two outs when Michki doubled to right center, putting runners on second and third. However, the Comets were able to strand the McM runners with a strikeout to end the game.
UTD struck first as they had all weekend, hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning.
McMurry got two runs back in the second off an RBI single from Pourcio and an RBI groundout by senior outfielder Sarah Nagy.
The Comets scored their fifth run in the fifth on an RBI single.
Michki once again collected two hits, as did Pourcio. Ryerson tallied two RBIs.
Starting pitcher Madison Morgan was chased in the first inning, and gave way to junior Bekah Chance. Chance went the rest of the way in the circle, tossing 5.2 innings. Chance only struck out one, but was effective on keeping the ball on the ground, forcing 14 groundouts. Chance allowed one run on five hits and a walk.
