ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball held its home opener and American Southwest Conference opener at the same time on Friday, taking the first of two games against Sul Ross State at Edwards Field in Abilene.
McMurry (3-1, 1-1 ASC) won the series opener in front of a capacity crowd, 4-2. Sul Ross (1-1, 1-1 ASC) found its way into the win column in game two of the doubleheader, winning 2-0.
Game 1: McMurry 4, Sul Ross 2
McMurry ace Jenna Lewis and Sul Ross ace Jodie Vaughn went head-to-head in the circle to open conference play, as Lewis came out on top in a low-scoring affair with a quality start. She tossed 7.0 innings, fanning six and allowing just two runs. She improved to 2-0 on the year.
One of those two runs came in the first inning, as a double by Nadia Valverde put the Lobos on the board.
The lead held for just three innings, as Lewis sat down the side on three pitches to start the third. McMurry's offense went to work after that, as Mercedes Camacho reached on a single up the middle. After Angelica Abila moved her over on a sac bunt, Camacho stole third. This allowed fellow sophomore Grace Duecker to bunt her home, placing it perfectly between the pitcher and catcher for the RBI single.
In the next inning, McMurry took the lead with a two-out RBI single by sophomore Kate Casey. The inning started with senior Kelsey Ahart singling to right field. Sydney King entered to pinch run for her and eventually moved into scoring position on a sac bunt by Jesse Stephenson – setting the table for Casey.
The lead increased in the fifth, as senior Kasey Woolard ripped a two-RBI single with the bases loaded to make it 4-1. Duecker walked with one out, then Emily Michki reached on a single and moved Duecker to third. A walk to Ahart loaded the bases for Woolard, who pinched hit for Stephenson.
Lewis had some obstacles in her way the final two innings, but she stranded two in the sixth and left the tying run at the plate to slam the door in the seventh.
Duecker and Camacho each had two hits for McMurry, while Ahart went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk. Ahart nearly added the team's first homer of the season, but hooked it foul by a hair.
Game 2: Sul Ross 2, McMurry 0
The two conference rivals had another pitching duel for the nightcap, but this time, two runs did the job for Sul Ross in a shutout win.
Danielle Gomez won the duel with a complete game, scattering five hits, but nothing else. McMurry junior Kinleigh Stotts was also solid despite her first loss of the year, allowing just four hits and two runs with one earned over 7.0 innings.
All of Sully's scoring came in the second inning, as Valverde reached on a double. Gomez then helped her own cause by hitting an RBI single down the right field line. Later in the inning, another run crossed on a throwing error.
The War Hawks had a few chances to break through, as they stranded five runners. The big momentum swing came in the sixth inning, as Duecker and Michki hit back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position on a misplayed outfield dive. Gomez buckled down and swung momentum back by earning the final two outs.
Veterans Camille Scott and Sydney King joined Woolard, Michki and Duecker with one hit each.
On Deck
The three-game series finale will take place tomorrow at noon at Edwards Field.
