LONGVIEW, Texas – The McMurry University Softball team handled business Friday night as they claimed a doubleheader sweep against LeTourneau University in American Southwest Conference action.

The War Hawks (9-4, 5-3) claimed both games against the YellowJackets (4-6, 3-5) by a margin of four points, earning the wins by a score of 8-4 and 9-5 respectively. 

Game 1: McMurry 8, LeTourneau 4

Capitalizing on an LETU error, McMurry jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead at the top of the first inning. With Savannah Flinn and Angelica Abila in scoring position, Emily Michki would put the ball in play to cause some commotion on the YellowJackets defense. With an error by the centerfielder, two runs would cross the plate for the War Hawks as a result.

Continuing to apply pressure on LeTourneau, McMurry would tack on another run in the second inning, going up 3-0 before LETU would cross the plate for the first time in the contest.

LETU scored its first run in the bottom of the third on a ground out to second. The fourth inning would see three more cross the plate for the YellowJackets before the War Hawks would answer back.

Down by one, the War Hawks climbed back into the lead with a two RBI single to right center by Cayleigh England at the top of the fifth.

Although leading by one at the top of the seventh, the War Hawks added some assurance, scoring three runs before allowing LETU to hit once more.  With a comfortable four-point lead, the McMurry defense held steady as they closed out the game with three straight put-outs.

Flinn led the McMurry offense going 4-5 while registering two RBIs and two doubles. Abila followed with a 3-5 day in the box and a stolen base. McMurry tallied a game high 13 hits in the matchup while LETU recorded 7.

Pitchers of record:
W – Kinleigh Stotts (3-1)
L – Bailey Richey (3-2)
S – None

Game 2: McMurry 9, LeTourneau 5

Despite a quick 1-0 lead for McMurry at the top of the first inning, LETU responded by turning up the heat early in the night cap. Hits by Alysa Torres, Hunter Handley and Emilee Anderson would score four for LETU in the bottom of the second.

The War Hawks answered back with a huge fourth inning rally that resulted in six runs for McMurry, including a clutch bases loaded single up the middle by Jessika Truax and a three RBI double to center field by Kelsey Ahart to clear the bases.

Adding gas to the fire, Ahart would send one over the fence to tally another two RBI's at the top of the sixth, giving McMurry a comfortable 9-4 lead heading into the final inning of the night.

LETU would see one cross the plate in the bottom of the seventh before the War Hawks were able to close the game for the win.

Pitchers of record:
W – Nicole Pinney (2-1)
L – Hannah Welch (0-2)
S – None

On Deck

McMurry has now won six of its last seven games and look to continue its win streak in the series finale against LeTourneau tomorrow, March 20 in Longview, Texas. Game time is set for 12 p.m.