BROWNWOOD, Texas – The McMurry University softball team claims its first series sweep of the season, defeating Howard Payne in the series finale by a score of 7-1 Friday afternoon in Brownwood.

The War Hawks improve to 14-6, 10-5 while the Yellow Jackets move to 12-10, 4-5. McMurry is also on a four-game win streak and have won five of the last six with the victory.

Surrounded by a solid defense, reigning ASC West POTW Kinleigh Stotts excelled once again, allowing only three hits through a complete seven innings pitched. Stotts registered four strikeouts on the day and finished the game with a 1.0 ERA. Stotts gave up a total of three hits the entire series and has only allowed nine hits in the last 20 innings pitched. 

The matchup proved to be a slugfest as McMurry scattered 30 runs across three games against the Yellow Jackets.

The hitting clinic continued for the War Hawks, as they led off the day with six runs on eight hits in the first inning. After a complete cycle through the lineup, senior Ashley McClellan would have a crack at another hot start, as she led the day off going 2-for-2 in the opening frame.

Tightening up on the defense, the Jackets would slow the War Hawk offense as the next two innings would remain at the 6-0 mark.

In the bottom of the fourth, HPU would jump on the board with an RBI double by Alexis Sullivan to score Kiley Persons.

Heading into the top of the sixth with a 6-1 lead, the War Hawks would tack on another run after a defensive error by HPU would allow Angelica Abila to sneak across the plate for the War Hawks.

McMurry would ultimately closeout the day with the win and the series sweep over the Yellow Jackets.

Four War Hawks posted two hits apiece while five added one each, highlighted by doubles from Kelsey Ahart and Mickhayla Nunez. Junior Jessika Truax led the team with two RBI while Abila and Ahart both had one.

McMurry returns home for a six-game stretch at Edwards Field beginning with a three-game series against Concordia Texas on April 9-10. Friday's doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. and Saturday's finale is set for noon.