ALPINE, Texas – McMurry University Baseball traveled west to Alpine, Texas for its American Southwest Conference opener on Friday, falling in both games of a doubleheader against Sul Ross State.
The three-game series began with a pitcher's duel, as the Lobos survived a late surge to win 2-1 in the opener. The nightcap was a different story, as Sul Ross closed with a 13-3 victory.
Sul Ross State improves to 2-0 overall and in the ASC, while McMurry falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
Game 1: Sul Ross 2, McMurry 1 (7 innings)
Senior pitcher Derek Hostas posted a quality start in the series opener, pitching all 6.0 innings with just two runs allowed. He scattered nine hits, but fanned five in the loss.
Meanwhile, Sam Russell got the win for Sul Ross, going 6.2 innings with just one unearned run allowed. Aidan Mow got the save, recording the final out.
Both teams traded hits to open the game, with McMurry's first hit coming from freshman Casey Turner. The Lobos broke through in the second inning and added another run in the third for a 2-0 lead.
The War Hawks finally got one across in the sixth, as Blake Beach started the frame with a double. He advanced to third on an error, then was flied home by Blaze Rickerson. McMurry stranded the tying run on second to end the frame. McM threatened again in the seventh with Reed Hodges reaching second, but Mow entered in relief and stranded him with a groundout.
Beach led the team, going 2-for-3, while Turner and Hodges added the other two hits.
Game 2: Sul Ross 13, McMurry 3
The nine inning nightcap was all Lobos, as the team used a seven-run second inning to pull ahead for good.
Sul Ross scored an unearned run in the first inning, but McMurry showed early fight and took the lead in the second. Freshman Dylan Lee, making his first career start, led off the second with a walk, then stole second to set up an RBI single by Blake Beach. Christian Oliver helped McMurry gain the lead with a walk, which led to a double steal by he and Beach. Beach would come home on a wild pitch to make it 2-1.
The Lobos responded with a big second inning to take the lead back, then added four runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth for added insurance. McMurry had one more run in the fourth, as Beach scored on an RBI single from freshman Logan Mercer.
The bright spot on the mound for the War Hawks was Kaden Sebastian, who threw 2.2 innings and allowed just one run – unearned – and two hits. He also struck out five hitters.
On Deck
The War Hawks hope to salvage the series tomorrow at noon in Alpine.
