SAN ANGELO, Texas – McMurry University Baseball faced arguably its toughest opponent of the season to open the 2021 campaign Tuesday afternoon, falling 29-5 against Angelo State University – the top-ranked team in NCAA D2 – in San Angelo.
The No. 1 Rams (6-1) extended a five-game win streak at the expense of the War Hawks, who fall to an 0-1 record. Prior to today, McMurry had five games canceled due to weather, including a three-game home series against Schreiner and a neutral-site doubleheader against UT Dallas in Cleburne.
Despite the season-opening loss, McMurry posted five runs on eight hits against tough pitching. Prior to today, no team has scored more than four runs against the Rams through seven games.
Offensively, senior outfielder Marty Carnahan led the team with two hits – a solo homerun and an RBI double – to finish 2-for-3 with two RBI. Junior first baseman Nick Hamel – making his first appearance since 2019 – went 2-for-2 with two walks in his four plate appearances.
Angelo State scored four runs in the first and three runs in the second to take an early 7-0 lead. McMurry then struck for its first run of the season in the third inning, courtesy of the solo homer by Carnahan. Unfortunately for the War Hawks, the inning ended with the bases loaded.
Carnahan struck again in the fourth inning, ripping an RBI double to score freshman Black Beach to make it 7-2. Beach drew a one out walk to send the top of the order back up and later stole second with two outs to set up the score.
McMurry also had a three run inning in the fifth. With two on and nobody out, junior Christian Oliver entered to pinch hit and drove a two-RBI double to bring home Sam Hillyer and Nick Hamel. Oliver would come around to score later in the inning on a passed ball.
Angelo State put the game out of reach in the fourth inning with 17 runs.
On the mound, McMurry had eight players pitch, led by sophomore Travis Beauchamp with 1.1 scoreless innings with no hits, one walk and one strikeout.
Pitchers of record:
W – Austin Buley (1-0)
L – Derek Hostas (0-1)
With one game under its belt, the War Hawks will move on to American Southwest Conference play against Louisiana College this weekend at Walt Driggers Field.
The first two games will take place this Friday, Feb. 26 beginning at 3 p.m. The series finale is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
