ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball continued its winning streak Saturday, edging Fontbonne University in both games of a non-conference doubleheader at Edwards Field for nine consecutive wins.
Both games were decided by one run in low-scoring affairs, as Jenna Lewis pitched another complete game shutout for a 1-0 win in the opener. The nightcap was also a pitcher's duel, with McMurry earning the 2-1 victory.
After starting the season with a 4-4 record, McMurry has improved to 13-4 over the last two weeks. Fontbonne falls to 2-6 overall.
Game 1: McMurry 1, Fontbonne 0
McMurry's Jenna Lewis and Fontbonne's Hailey Kutz went toe-to-toe in the circle, but Lewis would be the victor with her third complete game shutout this season.
Lewis scattered five hits – including two doubles – with one walk and two hit batters, but struck out seven for her fifth win this season. McMurry's defense also factored in the result, including a double play to end the third inning and a throw out at the plate by centerfielder Mercedes Camacho to prevent the tying run in the sixth inning.
McMurry had the lone run of the game in the fourth inning, as Brianna Martinez reached on a one-out single and later came around to score on a double by Kate Casey. The sophomore sliced one down the right field line and the ball hit off the defender's glove as she was on the run, allowing Martinez to score from first. Casey earned a double, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch a triple.
The War Hawks had just four hits, but that was all it needed in the victory. Angelica Abila accounted for the other two hits outside of the fourth inning – a single and a double.
Game 2: McMurry 2, Fontbonne 1
Sophomore Kinleigh Stotts started in the circle for game two. Despite allowing 11 hits, Stotts and the War Hawks consistently tight roped out of trouble en route to a 2-1 win.
Stotts finished 7.0 complete innings and allowed just one run – coming on a solo homer by Fontbonne pitcher Michaela Mason – forcing the Griffins to strand 10 runners on base with clutch two out plays throughout the contest.
Meanwhile, McMurry only had five hits, but scored both the tying and winning runs on solo homers. After Mason went deep in the top of the second, senior Kayla Otis led off the bottom half of the inning with a shot over the center field wall to tie it up.
The score stayed even all the way to the sixth inning, but senior Cayleigh England changed that with her first homer this season – a two out solo shot to left center. This allowed Stotts to come back out with the team's first lead in the seventh.
Fontbonne started the seventh with back-to-back singles and a sac bunt to move the runners over, putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with one out. Nonetheless, the War Hawks showed their resilience by getting the final two outs.
Stotts got the second out of the seventh with a grounder right back to her, looking the runner at third back before successfully throwing to first. Needing one more out, Stotts had a tough battle against pinch hitter Ellie Bartlett with multiple foul balls keeping her alive, but finally got one past her for the final strikeout.
The Griffins stranded at least one runner every inning – two runners in the first, one in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh. Furthermore, eight of those were stranded in scoring position.
Abila had another two-hit day in the nightcap – including a single and a double. Emily Michki had the other hit for McMurry with a triple.
On Deck
The War Hawks conclude their non-conference home stretch with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 15 at 2 p.m. against University of St. Thomas (Texas).
