ABILENE, Texas – For the first time in over a month, McMurry University Softball dropped an American Southwest Conference series as Mary Hardin-Baylor secured a pair of wins at Edwards Field on Friday afternoon in Abilene.
In an important ASC West Division battle, McMurry falls to 16-9 overall and 12-8 in ASC play. UMHB jumped to 19-11 overall and 13-7 in the conference. The loss moves the War Hawks down to third place in the standings, while UMHB slides into the top spot for the time being.
The War Hawks last dropped a three-game set on March 5-6 against Belhaven, taking one of two before falling in the rubber match.
McMurry has not been swept this season and will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 12 p.m.
Game 1: Mary Hardin-Baylor 5, McMurry 1
The Cru did all of their damage in two innings, taking the series opener with a 5-1 victory.
The win tied both teams for first place in the American Southwest Conference West standings for the time being, as both teams moved to a 12-7 record in league play.
The Cru posted three runs in the first inning and two in the second inning to take an early 5-1 lead. The first three runs came on a pair of RBI doubles and a sac fly, while a two-RBI single in the second inning extended the lead.
McMurry attempted to answer right away in the bottom of the first as Ashley McClellan reached on a lead-off single and stole second, but was called out at home as she tried scoring on a double by Angelica Abila. Abila later scored on an RBI single by Emily Michki, but McMurry stranded two runners to end the frame with just one run.
That run would be the only one for the War Hawks, as neither team posted a run past the second inning.
Abila led the team with a three hit day, hitting safely in her first three at-bats with a double in the first inning. Sophomore Brianna Martinez added two hits, including a double. Michki had the lone RBI, as she, McClellan and Savannah Flinn contributed a hit in the contest.
Making her eighth start of the season, Bekah Chance (4-1) took her first loss of the season with three earned runs allowed. Nicole Pinney finished the final five innings scoreless, allowing just two hits in long relief.
Bayleigh Grogan was the winning pitcher for UMHB and earned her 12th win in the circle, the second most by any ASC pitcher this season.
Despite the loss, McMurry had more hits with nine. UMHB totaled eight.
The difference maker turned out to be runs left on base, as McMurry stranded four more runners than UMHB in the four-run setback. The War Hawks left nine on base, while UMHB stranded five.
Pitchers of record:
W – Bayleigh Grogan (12-7)
L – Bekah Chance (4-1)
Game 2: UMHB 2, McMurry 1
McMurry sophomore Kinleigh Stotts dueled against UMHB's Camryn Rucker in the circle and came out on the wrong end of a close 2-1 loss in the nightcap.
Stotts scattered six hits in the outing and took a scoreless start into the sixth inning. UMHB took the lead on a two-RBI single by Tatum Stover with runners in scoring position, as a passed ball allowed both runners to move up before the hit.
Much like the opening inning of game one, the War Hawks responded with a run of its own. Senior Ashley McClellan tapped her way on with an infield single and later scored on an infield single by Kasey Woolard. The War Hawks ended up leaving the tying run on second to end the sixth inning.
In the seventh, Stotts allowed two runners on but worked out of the inning without any damage, sending the tying run to the plate to begin the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Grace Duecker reached on an error with two outs, but a flyout to center the next at-bat ended hopes of evening the series.
Woolard had two hits in the second game, while McClellan added one. Neither team recorded a multi-base hit in an impressive pitching showcase.
Pitchers of record:
W – Camryn Rucker (2-1)
L – Kinleigh Stotts (7-2)
On deck:
The series concludes on Saturday at noon.
