ABILENE, Texas – Looking to extend a nine game win streak Tuesday, McMurry University Softball hosted a strong non-conference opponent in the St. Thomas (Texas) Celts. Instead, UST eked out two close wins in a doubleheader at Edwards Field.
The War Hawks move to 13-6 on the season, while the Celts improve to 12-6.
Game 1: St. Thomas 2, McMurry 1
McMurry took a one-run lead in the fourth inning and held it for as long as it could, but the Celts stole the game away – as well as McMurry's win streak – with a 2-1 win in the opener.
Proving to be a tough out all game, UST's Jaelyn Simmons hit a triple past a diving glove and brought home the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh. She finished 3-for-4 and was the only multi-hit player for either team.
Trailing 2-1, McMurry started to rally with back-to-back singles by Kayla Otis and Brianna Martinez to open the bottom of the seventh. UST's ace Lindsey Longuet recovered with three consecutive outs after that to finish a complete game win.
McMurry's junior ace Jenna Lewis pitched a quality start in her own right, going 7.0 innings with just two runs allowed on five hits and two walks. Lewis also struck out eight, running her season total to 56. She ranks third in the American Southwest Conference in season strikeouts.
Angelica Abila accounted for the team's lone run in the fourth inning, reaching on a leadoff double and coming around to score on a grounder by Emily Michki. Prior to that, Grace Duecker moved her to third with a well-placed sacrifice bunt.
Kasey Woolard joined Abila, Martinez and Otis with one hit each.
Game 2: St. Thomas 5, McMurry 4
The War Hawks started hot in the nightcap with two early runs, but UST was able to take the lead in the third inning and hold it the rest of the way in a narrow 5-4 win.
Much like the first game, McMurry went into the seventh down one run and began rallying. Down to its final out, senior Emily Michki drew a four-pitch walk and fellow senior Cayleigh England singled up the middle to put two runners on. After that, the Celts were able to make a tough catch in centerfield to escape with the win.
England and Angelica Abila each had two-hit days, including another double from Abila. Sophomore Grace Duecker also added a double and a sacrifice hit. UST slightly out-hit McMurry 11-9.
McMurry's nine hits came from seven players – Abila, Michki, England, Duecker, Kelsey Ahart, Jesse Stephenson and Jessika Truax.
UST opened scoring with one run in the first, but the home team responded immediately with Duecker's RBI double and a Michki RBI single.
Later, UST moved ahead 4-2 with three runs in the third. McMurry answered with one in the fourth, as Lauren Ramirez entered as a pinch hitter and sac flied a run home. UST made it 5-3 in the sixth and McMurry matched with another run flied home by Sydney King.
This concluded scoring, as UST held on in the seventh.
On Deck
The War Hawks face their first nationally-ranked opponent of the season this weekend, traveling to Marshall, Texas to face No. 7 East Texas Baptist on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
