JACKSON, Miss. – McMurry University Baseball wrapped up a three-game American Southwest Conference series against Belhaven on Saturday, falling 11-4 in the rubber match at Trustmark Park – home of the Mississippi Braves.
The War Hawks (12-15, 9-12 ASC) trailed 4-0 heading to the fifth inning and responded with three runs, but the game began to get away in the late frames. With the lead in hand, Belhaven (15-11, 13-8 ASC) sealed things with four runs in the eighth inning and a shutout ninth.
The three-run fifth inning started with a walk to Blaze Rickerson, who stole second and later scored on a throwing error. Later that frame, Reed Hodges singled home Javier Rosa and Nick Hamel brought in Koy Carpenter with an RBI groundout.
McMurry had eight hits in the effort, led by Hodges, Blake Beach and Xavier Escobar with two each. Escobar had the lone multi-base hit for either team – an RBI double in the eighth inning to make it 7-4. Carpenter and Dylan Abbott had the other hits.
The McMurry pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts despite the loss, led by Kaden Sebastian with five in 4.0 innings.
Prior to next weekend's home series with crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons, McMurry will travel to Georgetown, Texas for a midweek matchup against Southwestern on Tuesday, April 5 at 2 p.m.
