ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball rallied from a late deficit by posting five runs in the fifth inning, including a go-ahead three-run homer by Jessika Truax, en route to a 7-6 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor in the series finale of a three-game set on Saturday at Edwards Field.
 
The win was an important one for McMurry, as the War Hawks and Cru each own a 13-8 record in conference play and are tied for second place in the American Southwest Conference West Division standings. Concordia Texas sits atop the West with a one-game lead at 14-7.
 
After dropping both games of the doubleheader yesterday, the War Hawks (17-9, 13-8) were out to avoid its first sweep since 2019.
 
Things did not look good early, as UMHB (19-12, 13-8) took an early 3-0 lead thanks to a three-run homer off the bat of Bailey Wagner. McMurry did answer with a run in the bottom half – an RBI single by Emily Michki.
 
Senior Savannah Flinn came to the plate in the bottom of the third inning and led off with a solo homer on the first pitch she saw, making it 3-2. UMHB would extend its lead in the fourth inning with a pair of unearned runs.
 
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the War Hawks needed a rally. With one out in the inning, freshman Angelica Abila caught a break as what appeared to be a groundout to shortstop turned into a throwing error. This opened the window for McMurry to start a comeback.
 
Following Abila, the next four batters would each hit singles, and the team plated two runs to make it 5-4. After Kasey Woolard snuck one through the left side, Michki would rip one up the middle for her second RBI of the game, scoring Abila.
 
Freshman Jesse Stephenson entered to pinch run on second base and scored in the next at-bat, an RBI single by Kelsey Ahart. This brought up Cayleigh England with two runners on, who also singled to shallow center with the tying run in scoring position. UMHB was able to get the runner, Mercedes Camacho, out at home to retain the lead.
 
Now with two outs and two on, Jessika Truax smashed one deep over left field wall to give her team a 7-5 lead.
 
This brought pitcher Kinleigh Stotts back to the circle to work with her first lead of the game. UMHB put the pressure on with a leadoff walk and an RBI double right away in the sixth, but Stotts shook it off and retired the next three hitters.
 
McMurry left two insurance runs in scoring position to end the bottom of the six, but clinged to a 7-6 lead needing three more outs. UMHB loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a two-out walk, but Stotts forced a groundout to first base and got out of the jam with the victory.

Five War Hawks had multi-hit games, led by Woolard with a flawless 3-for-3 showing at the plate. Woolard reached in all four plate appearances – the other coming on a hit-by-pitch. Flinn and Truax each had a single and a homer, while Ahart and Michki each registered a pair of singles.
 

Pitchers of record:
W – Kinleigh Stotts (8-2)
L – Bayleigh Grogan (12-8)
 

On deck:
The War Hawks will travel to Alpine, Texas for another important conference matchup against ASC West rival Sul Ross State on April 23-24.