PINEVILLE, La. – McMurry University Baseball opened a three-game series at Louisiana College Saturday afternoon, dropping both games of the American Southwest Conference doubleheader by finals of 10-2 and 12-0.
McMurry (3-11-1, 1-7 ASC) had the tall task of facing a team that owned a 22-4 home record over the last two seasons coming in, as the Wildcats (6-7, 3-5 ASC) defended their field with a pair of series-opening wins.
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Louisiana College 10, McMurry2
The War Hawks notched a pair of early runs to open the contest, but Louisiana College would slam the door after the opening frame with six shutout innings. The Wildcats scored in bulks, taking the lead with a four-run second inning and later extending it with a six-run sixth inning.
The opener was a seven-inning game.
A throwing error at shortstop allowed freshman Cole Riser to reach as the leadoff runner, and fellow freshman Mitch Carnahan drew a walk right behind him for two early baserunners. With Riser on second, junior Sam Hiller ripped an RBI single through the left side to put one on the board.
Junior Kyle Keever hit an RBI groundout to the second baseman in the next at-bat, allowing Carnahan to score with heads-up baserunning and for McMurry to take a 2-0 advantage.
The lead would hold until LC squeezed out four runs in the second frame, trading outs for runs on a sac fly and a groundout for the tying and go-ahead scores. The first run came via a failed throw-down to second base, allowing a runner to score from third.
The game remained close until the six run inning, widening the gap with McM down to its final three outs.
Pitchers of record:
W – Brooks Southall (1-2)
L – Travis Beauchamp (0-2)
S – None
Game 2: Louisiana College 12, McMurry 0
The War Hawks managed just two hits in the nightcap, as Louisiana College's Dylan Roark (2-1) tossed 8.0 scoreless innings with two walks and nine strikeouts.
A two-run homer in the first inning put the Wildcats ahead, but junior pitcher Marty Carnahan battled back to throw four scoreless innings after the opening frame. Carnahan took the loss with just three earned runs allowed.
The Wildcats had 10 hits and took advantage of seven unearned runs to pad the lead.
Cole Riser and Javier Rosa each had singles in the effort.
Pitchers of record:
W – Dylan Roark (2-1)
L – Marty Carnahan (0-3)
S – None
