ABILENE, Texas – Senior Ashley McClellan started her career as the first player to record a hit and score a run for the McMurry University Softball program, but ended her career with the program's first inside-the-park home run to cap off senior day on Sunday against Hardin-Simmons.
The Cowgirls defeated the War Hawks in two games, winning 12-8 in the opener and 4-1 in the finale.
Due to unplayable conditions at Edwards Field, the doubleheader took place at Abilene Christian University's Poly Wells Field. McMurry was the home team for both games.
Despite the losses, McMurry (18-13, 14-12 ASC) has clinched a spot in the American Southwest Conference tournament as the sixth seed. The War Hawks will face HSU again, as the Cowgirls clinched the seventh seed with a 15-19, 11-11 record.
Game 1: Hardin-Simmons 12, McMurry 8
McMurry underwent a 7-0 deficit through the first four innings, but worked back into the game with eight runs in the final three innings. Unfortunately, a four run seventh inning was not enough, as HSU held off the rally for the win.
In the fifth inning, Savannah Flinn got the War Hawks on the board for the first time with a single to left-center field. The next at-bat proved to be a historical one, as Ashley McClellan blooped one over the right fielder's glove in shallow territory. The ball rolled back to the fence, allowing McClellan to round third and slide in safely for the inside-the-park home run – the first in the program's four-year history.
HSU pulled back to a 10-3 lead in the sixth, but McMurry added another run on a Kelsey Ahart sac fly to bring home Sydney King.
McMurry began rallying in the final frame, down 12-4, singling in five of the first six at-bats. Kasey Woolard had the fourth single in that span, scoring McClellan and Flinn for two runs. Emily Michki followed her up with a single of her own to score Mikalya Krause.
After a pop out put McMurry down to its final out, Elizabeth Battle kept the rally alive with an RBI single to score Sandra Parks. The final out came on a tough lineout at second base, killing the rally.
McClellan led the way with three hits and two runs scored.
Pitchers of record:
W – Brookelyn Casper (2-2)
L – Kinleigh Stotts (9-3)
Game 2: Hardin-Simmons 4, McMurry 1
The second game proved to be more of a low-scoring affair, as HSU did just enough to move up in the standings with a 4-1 win in the regular season finale for both teams.
Nicole Pinney pitched seven complete innings without a walk allowed, striking out one with four runs allowed. Kaylen Washington had the edge in the circle, working a perfect game into the fourth inning before Kelsey Ahart broke it up with a leadoff double in the fifth.
Washington allowed one run on four hits in her win.
Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Ahart's double led to an immediate score. Jesse Stephenson entered to run in place of Ahart and scored on a single by Emily Michki to make it 3-1. The War Hawks stranded two on following a pair of strikeouts to end the frame.
HSU added a solo shot in the sixth to make it 4-1. The insurance would be unnecessary, as McMurry left the tying run on deck in the final frame.
Ahart had a single and double in the contest, while Michki and Maisa Ryerson each added a hit.
Pitchers of record:
W – Kaylen Washington (5-8)
L – Nicole Pinney (2-4)
On Deck
The War Hawks will head to Clinton, Mississippi on Thursday, May 6 to begin ASC Championship play. The first game is a must-win single elimination match against Hardin-Simmons at 10 a.m.
The games will be hosted at Mississippi College University. The regular season conference champions, Belhaven University, will be the tournament host and top seed.
BRACKET
Thursday, May 6 (single-elimination)
10:00 a.m. - Game 1: #7 Hardin-Simmons (15-19) vs. #6 McMurry (18-13)
box score | recap
1:00 p.m. - Game 2: #8 LeTourneau (14-15) vs. #5 Sul Ross State (12-12)
box score | recap
4:00 p.m. - Game 3: #2W Concordia Texas (22-15) vs. Winner Game 1
box score | recap
7:00 p.m. - Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs. #2E East Texas Baptist (26-5)
box score | recap
Friday, May 7 (double-elimination)
10:00 a.m. - Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. #1E Belhaven (30-8)
box score | recap
1:00 p.m. - Game 6: #1W Mary Hardin-Baylor (25-12) vs. Winner Game 4
box score | recap
4:00 p.m. - Game 7: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (elimination)
box score | recap
7:00 p.m. - Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner 6
box score | recap
Saturday, May 8
11:00 a.m. - Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8 (elimination)
box score | recap
Championship
2:00 p.m. - Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9
box score | recap
If needed 7:00 p.m. - Game 11: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9
box score | recap
