SHERMAN, Texas – Junior catcher Kelsey Ahart hit three two-run homers as McMurry University Softball picked up a nonconference doubleheader sweep of Austin College at Old Settlers Park Wednesday afternoon.
The War Hawks won game one, 9-2, and game two, 9-4. McMurry sees its record improve to 13-2 while Austin College falls to 3-19.
McMurry is off this weekend before resuming American Southwest Conference play March 20-21 at Belhaven University.
McMurry 9, Austin 2
Ahart hit a pair of two-run homers as McMurry defeated the 'Roos 9-2 in game one. Ahart got McM on the board in the top of the first inning, and added her second homer in the top of the sixth. It is the second two-homer game of the season for Ahart.
Austin answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but the War Hawks scored two more runs in the second on an RBI single by senior outfielder Kollin Morris and a Kangaroo error.
McMurry would go on to score single tallies in the third and fourth innings on RBIs by senior first baseman Eva Pourcio and junior third baseman Emily Michki. The War Hawks scored on an error in the seventh, as well, prior to Ahart's second homer.
Sophomore Camille Scott got the start in the circle and tossed a complete game for her fifth win of the season. She allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five.
Ahart, Michki and junior second baseman Savannah Flinn all went 2-for-4 at the plate. Ahart and Michki each scored twice while Flinn scored once. Senior shortstop Mikayla Krause went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
McMurry 9, Austin 4
Senior shortstop Mikayla Krause drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly and the War Hawks added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to sweep the Kangaroos with a 9-4 win.
Leading 5-4 in the ninth, McMurry added an insurance run on an RBI double by Michki. Freshman catcher Symone Gary, who went 3-for-4, then delivered a two-run double to center to extend the lead to 8-4. The War Hawks got their final run on an RBI single by senior first baseman Eva Pourcio.
In the top of the fifth, Ahart hit her third home run of the afternoon, a two-run pinch hit homer to right to break a 2-2 tie and give McM a 4-2 advantage. The 'Roos answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to retie the game.
Flinn led off the game with her third leadoff home run in five games, while Pourcio hit her first career home run in the second for a 2-0 McM lead.
Austin responded with two runs in the fourth on a double before Ahart broke the tie in the fifth.
Ahart and Flinn are now tied with six home runs and 15 RBIs on the season.
Junior Bekah Chance picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings. She allowed two unearned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out three. Senior Emily Levario started in the circle, giving up two runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings.
Flinn, Michki and Pourcio each collected two hits, with Flinn scoring three times. Pourcio and Gary each had two RBIs, while Flinn, Michki and Krause drove in one run apiece.
