JACKSON, Miss. – McMurry University Baseball jumped to an early 6-0 lead, but could not hang on to it as Belhaven University edged the War Hawks by a final of 11-10 in series finale in Jackson, Mississippi.

McMurry (0-8, 0-6 American Southwest Conference) totaled 10 hits on the day and jumped to an early 6-0 lead through three innings. Belhaven (9-3, 6-0 ASC) then rallied back to score seven runs in the fourth inning and regain the lead.

After the Blazers extended their lead to 10-6, McMurry retied the game with a four-run eighth inning with help from a bases-clearing three-run double by senior Sam Hillyer and a fielder's choice groundout by senior Ryan Potter to score Hillyer later that inning.

Unfortunately for the War Hawks, Belhaven was able to add one more run in the eighth following a leadoff triple by Trip Benson. After pitcher Matthew Bass forced a groundout to hold the runner for the first out, the next batter would force the infield to throw home on a fielder's choice and the runner would score safely.

The Blazers would retire the side in the ninth, ending any hopes of a rally.

Hillyer and junior Ethan Schmidt each had a pair of hits, while six more War Hawks had one-hit days. In the second and third inning breakouts, senior catcher Justin Kutz opened the scoring with a two-RBI single to center field and later scored on a bases loaded error. The same exact scenario happened again in the third inning, with Kutz once again scoring on an error at shortstop.

Also in the third inning, freshman infielder Blake Beach had a deep double to center field, bringing home Potter and Mike Gonzales.  

Pitchers of record:

W – Luke Miller (2-0)

L – Matthew Bass (0-2)

Up next, the War Hawks will host Trinity University in non-conference action on Tuesday, March 9 at 5 p.m.