RICHARDSON, Texas – McMurry University Baseball played some of its best baseball of the season Friday, opening a three-game series against defending American Southwest Champion UT Dallas with a 3-0 shutout victory in Richardson, Texas.

Facing one of the nation's top-ranked teams, the War Hawks (9-13, 6-10 ASC) rose to the occasion with dominant outings by senior Derek Hostas and junior Travis Beauchamp. Hostas finished 6.0 innings and allowed just four hits and two walks, earning the win. Hostas threw over 100 pitches and struck out five.

Beauchamp came on for the final three innings and was flawless, earning his first save with nine straight outs. He forced four flyouts, three groundouts and fanned two for the save.

McMurry now has nine wins on the season, matching its total from last season in 11 less games. Meanwhile, No. 5 UT Dallas falls for just the fourth time in 21 games.

The War Hawks did not need much production from the offense today, but got three runs on eight hits. The go-ahead run came early in the third inning, as senior Reed Hodges singled home Koy Carpenter.

That 1-0 score would hold all the way until the seventh inning, as freshman Blaze Rickerson added insurance with a double to score Hodges and Josh Dyer.

Hodges, Rickerson and Carpenter led the way with two hits, while Dyer and Javier Rosa added one apiece. The fifth-ranked Comets were limited to four total hits.

The series continues tomorrow with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.