ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University Softball team fell just shy of a seventh inning comeback as Concordia would emerge victorious in the series finale Saturday afternoon. In a 5-3 decision, McMurry's (16-7, 15-6) six-game win streak came to an end.
 
Despite the loss, McMurry now sits atop the American Southwest Conference West Division after owning the series 2-1.
 
Concordia (TX) moves to (17-11, 11-7) on the year and are now neck and neck with Mary Hardin-Baylor in the ASC West standings.
 
Highlighted by a seventh inning home run by senior Kelsey Ahart, McMurry would make a strong push in the final minutes of the game. With bases loaded and only one out, the War Hawks had a chance to keep the streak alive but the Tornados defense would outlast McMurry for the win.
 
The Tornados quickly got the bats going, leading off the first inning with an early RBI single from Emily Moses to score Cristina Ayala.
 
The War Hawks would follow up with a run in the bottom of the first, scoring Savannah Flinn on a single down the left field line by Angelica Abila.
 
Continuing to put pressure on the War Hawk defense, Concordia adds another run in the top of the second inning after loading the bases on three hits.
 
Grace Dueker answers in the bottom of the second with an RBI double to right field to score Brianna Martinez.
 
The score remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the top of the sixth inning would find the War Hawks trailing by one after a shot to right field by Ashley Soto would score Anissa Garcia. To slow to Tornado rally, McMurry would enter senior Emily Levario on the mound with no outs and a runner on first.
 
The Tornados would load the bases and bring in two before the War Hawks were able to pull out the inning.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, McMurry had some ground to make up. Nipping at the Tornado lead, senior Kelsey Ahart would blast one across the fence for her second homer of the season.
 
Levario and the War Hawks were able to escape the top of the seventh with only minor damage done by the Tornados. Concordia snuck two across before giving the War Hawks a chance to extend the game.
 
Down 5-3, McMurry would make some noise at the plate as a walk-off situation presented itself once again for McMurry. With bases loaded, senior Emily Michki would have a shot at bringing in the tying and game winning run but unfortunatly Michki was unable to capitalize on the moment as she would fly to right field for the final out of the game.
 
McMurry finished with seven hits on the day while the Tornados recorded 13.
 
Both Duecker and Ahart tallied two hits and an RBI on the day while Abila was also credited with an RBI in the matchup.
 
Pitchers of record:
W – Bailey Tisdale (10-5)
L – Nicole Pinney (2-3)
 
On Deck
Up next for the War Hawks is a three-game conference series against UMHB on April 16-17. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. followed by a single game on Saturday at 11 a.m.