ABILENE, Texas – For the first time in program history, the McMurry University softball team welcomed a ranked opponent to Edwards Field and earned its first ranked win in the process with a doubleheader split against No. 2 East Texas Baptist on Friday.
The fourth year War Hawks Softball program knocked off the second-ranked Tigers in the series opener, churning out a 4-2 win. McMurry's landmark victory marked just the second loss for ETBU in its last 29 games, dating back to last season. The Tigers, who were ranked No. 1 the last three weeks prior to this week, responded with an 8-0 win in the nightcap.
McMurry moves to 10-6 overall and 6-5 in American Southwest Conference play, while ETBU sits at 13-2 and 9-2.
Game 1: McMurry 4, ETBU 2
Senior Bekah Chance pitched a quality start in the circle and the offense totaled four runs on nine hits en route to a historic win.
Chance (3-0) worked five scoreless innings until one of the nation's top hitters – Marin Musicant – put a deuce on the scoreboard with a sixth inning two-run homer. McMurry held on to its 3-2 lead with another insurance run, allowing sophomore Kinleigh Stotts to preserve the win for Chance and pick up the team's first save with a scoreless seventh.
The Tigers, who entered today's games with the league's best offensive numbers, was held to four hits. McMurry had nine hits on the day, led by senior Mikayla Krause with three hits and fellow senior Savannah Flinn with a pair.
The War Hawks struck first with a pair of runs in the third, as Krause singled home senior teammate Ashley McClellan and later scored on a single by Cayleigh England in the following at-bat.
Krause added another run in the fifth with her first homer of the season, riding the wind for a solo shot over the right field fence. Musicant's homer cut McMurry's lead to one, but junior Camille Scott added insurance with an RBI single to score Brianna Martinez.
Pitchers of record:
W – Bekah Chance (3-0)
L – Marin Musicant (0-1)
S – Kinleigh Stotts (1)
Game 2: ETBU 8, McMurry 0
ETBU responded with a shutout victory in the nightcap to split the day, led by pitcher Ashley Croft with a six-inning complete game.
Croft took a no-hitter all the way into the sixth inning, where a Savannah Flinn single broke up the no-no.
ETBU trickled runs throughout the game, including one each in the first, second and fourth innings. Five more crossed in the late innings. Five of the eight runs were earned.
Pitchers of record:
W – Ashley Croft (5-0)
L – Nicole Pinney (1-2)
On Deck
The series will be decided tomorrow at noon at Edwards Field, as McMurry seeks third straight series win and its first against a nationally-ranked opponent.
