ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball returned to the diamond for the first time in two weeks and sent its fans home happy with a pair of home wins over Howard Payne in American Southwest Conference action Friday.
The War Hawks (18-15, 12-13 ASC) worked quickly in the opener with a five-inning victory, but had to rely on dramatics to win the nightcap. With her team down 3-2 with two outs in the seventh, McMurry's Angelica Abila lifted a double over the centerfielder to drive home the tying and winning runs in a 4-3 victory.
Abila also brought home the final run of the mercy rule game with a double in the fifth.
The wins put McMurry closer to clinching a spot in the ASC Championship Tournament as it remains comfortably in seventh place in the standings. The top eight teams will make the tournament. Howard Payne falls to 5-30 overall and 2-24 in the ASC.
Game 1: McMurry 9, HPU 1 (5 innings)
Despite nearly two weeks out of action, McMurry's offense did not miss a step and scored every inning to win 9-1 in the series opener.
The pitching was equally sound, as junior Jenna Lewis tossed 5.0 innings with just one run allowed on five hits. She did not allow a walk and struck out six, working quick and limiting herself to 65 pitches.
All nine starters had at least one hit for the War Hawks – including six with multi-hit games.
The first run came on an RBI groundout from Kayla Otis, bringing home Grace Duecker with the bases juiced. Two more scored in the second, as Brianna Martinez started with a leadoff single and stole second. Jade Dickens then landed a double in right field to score her. Later that inning, Mercedes Camacho tripled herself on and scored on a squeeze play by Abila.
HPU scored one in the third, but McMurry pulled away with three runs the next half. Three straight singles from Emily Michki, Cayleigh England and Otis sparked the threat, leading to a pair of fielding blunders to score three runs.
England added one more in the fourth with an RBI groundout, the Duecker came home on a double by Otis. Abila's fifth inning double clinched the game, scoring Dickens.
Game 2: McMurry 4, HPU 3
The War Hawks scored two early runs, but slipped behind 3-2 in the sixth. Needing to rally for at least one run in the seventh, McMurry got two and won in walk-off fashion.
Jessika Truax drew a one out walk in the seventh and was subbed out for Brianna Martinez as a pinch runner. Kayla Otis battled a full count, but popped out to shortstop on a diving play. Mercedes Camacho walked in a full count to put two runners on and keep the game alive.
This brought up Abila as the last hope with runners on first and second. With the wind blowing out, Abila swung at the first pitch she saw and got it over the head of the centerfielder. Martinez scored easily, but Camacho had to hustle a little harder. She made it home standing up, completing the two-game sweep.
Both teams had seven hits in the nightcap. Abila had two of those – both on doubles – while Grace Duecker, Emily Michki, Kasey Woolard and Jessika Truax had one hit apiece. Five of McMurry's seven hits were of the multi-base variety.
Abila and Duecker hit back-to-back doubles in the first inning to net a run, then Woolard grounded home Duecker to make it 2-0. From there, HPU answered with two runs in the fourth to tie it. The sixth also got testy, as Maddison Cason stole second and scored as the throw escaped to the outfield fence.
Despite trailing late in the game, junior Kinleigh Stotts remained clutch and earned her seventh win in the circle. She allowed three runs – just one earned – on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
On Deck
The War Hawks seek a three-game sweep Saturday at 12 p.m. at Edwards Field.
