CLINTON, Miss. – The McMurry University softball team competed in its first-ever American Southwest Conference tournament game on Thursday in Clinton, Mississippi, falling in a back-and-forth single elimination battle against Hardin-Simmons in the opening contest, 5-4.
McMurry completed its first winning season in its four-year history today with an 18-14 overall record. Last year, the War Hawks were 13-2 before COVID-19 prevented a full season.
Today's game was hosted on the campus of Mississippi College. Belhaven University served as the site host.
The War Hawks fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but answered instantly in the bottom of the frame. On the very first pitch she saw, senior leadoff hitter Savannah Flinn crushed a drive deep over left field for the game-tying solo homer.
HSU regained the lead in the third inning with an RBI double, but McMurry took its first lead in the fourth inning with back-to-back RBI hits. Emily Michki singled home Jesse Stephenson to tie it up, then later Cayleigh England singled home Sydney King to take the lead.
The fifth went in favor of HSU, Karis Hessert drove in her third run of the day – herself – with a solo homer. An RBI double later in the inning gave the Cowgirls the lead at 4-3.
McMurry answered again in the sixth on the bat of junior Jessika Truax, who found ground behind the left field wall for a game-tying solo homer.
The War Hawks caught an unfortunate break in the seventh, as HSU's Ashley Easley stole second and moved up to third on an unlucky bounce near the umpire following the throw down. The runner at third went on to score on a sac fly, serving as the go-ahead run. McMurry went down in order in the seventh inning to end it.
Eight players recorded a hit for McMurry, with Flinn, Michki, England and Truax accounting for the four runs. Ashley McClellan, Mikayla Krause, Kasey Woolard and Brianna Martinez also added hits, with Krause and Woolard hitting a double for their hits.
McMurry strategically rotated its pitchers for the tournament opener, with Bekah Chance, Kinleigh Stotts and Nicole Pinney appearing in order. Despite allowing just one unearned run and no earned runs, Pinney was credited with the loss. She allowed just two hits over her two innings.
Chance opened with the first two innings, while Stotts took most of the workload with five strikeouts in 3.0 full innings.
HSU's Kaylen Washington went the whole way, holding on for the win.
Pitchers of record:
W – Kaylen Washington (6-8)
L – Nicole Pinney (2-5)
