RICHARDSON, Texas – McMurry University piled up 16 hits on Tuesday afternoon, but did not do enough in the run category as the War Hawks dropped a 9-5 midweek contest at UT Dallas in Richardson, Texas.
The Comets (16-8, 12-6 American Southwest Conference) scored four runs in the second and five runs in the fifth, taking advantage of two big innings in the win. Despite the loss, McMurry (8-18, 5-13 ASC) recorded more hits as UTD finished with seven for an efficient day.
The 16 hits for McMurry matched a season-high from April 2 against Howard Payne.
A trio of War Hawks had three-hit days, with freshman Josh De La Rosa and seniors Mike Gonzales and Kyle Strickland accounting for nine of the 16 hits. Senior Javier Rosa and junior Christian Oliver added a pair. Rosa had the only homer for McMurry, coming in the ninth inning.
UTD scored the first four runs of the contest, taking advantage of a three-run homer and an infield single in the second inning.
McMurry finally answered in the fifth inning with two outs, as Gonzales rolled a grounder to shortstop that allowed a run to score. The shortstop attempted a throw to second for the force out, but an errant throw into the outfield scored Strickland. Strickland reached earlier on a double into the left-center gap.
After UTD's five-run inning made it 9-1, McMurry started a seventh inning rally with a pair of singles by Christian Oliver and Strickland. Gonzales chopped an RBI single up the middle, scoring Oliver with two outs.
McMurry began to rally in the eighth with a pair of RBI singles, starting with one from pinch hitter Justin Kutz. Oliver followed him up by driving home Marty Carnahan on a one-out single, but the rally ended with a double play.
Freshman Logan Ehr returned after a scoreless seventh inning and retired UTD in order in the eighth.
Down five runs, the War Hawks started a ninth inning rally with Javier Rosa's solo homer, then a single by Mike Gonzales. Nick Hamel also reached on a walk before the final three batters were retired in order.
The War Hawks continue their long road swing with a three-game set at Mary Hardin-Baylor, beginning on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
