ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball matched its number of American Southwest Conference wins from a year ago with a 9-1, five-inning defeat of Louisiana College at Edwards Field Sunday afternoon.
The War Hawks (11-2, 8-1 ASC) had eight ASC wins last season, and secured their eighth ASC win today to grab a 1.5 game lead in the ASC West Division.
Freshman pitcher Kinleigh Stotts made her first career start in the circle, and improved to 2-0 on the year after allowing just one unearned run. She tossed all five innings, scattering four hits while striking out two and walking one.
McMurry loaded the bases in the bottom of the first on two singles and a walk, and tallied the first run of the game when sophomore first baseman Camille Scott was hit by a pitch.
Junior second baseman Savannah Flinn continued her strong weekend, batting 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Flinn drove in McM's second run of the game in the second with an RBI double to right center. Her other RBI came in the third on a single.
Junior third baseman Emily Michki put McM ahead 3-0 in the second with an RBI single to score Flinn.
After the Wildcats (7-10, 2-7 ASC) scored their lone run in the top of the third, the War Hawks took advantage of a pair of LC mistakes in the bottom half of the frame to blow the game open.
Senior shortstop Mikayla Krause hit an RBI double to right to put McMurry back up three, then later scored on a wild pitch following Flinn's RBI single.
Two more runs came across when the Wildcats dropped a routine infield popup off the bat of junior catcher Kelsey Ahart. The final run of the game scored on an RBI single by junior designated player Cayleigh England.
McMurry tallied 12 hits while battling both the wind and the rain. In addition to Flinn, Michki, Krause and senior leftfielder Kollin Morris recorded two hits apiece. Krause and Michki each scored twice, as well.
The War Hawks will take a break from conference play with a midweek doubleheader at Austin College. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday.
