AUSTIN, Texas – It was a back-and-forth softball series all weekend between McMurry University and Concordia Texas, but it would be the Tornados who emerged with a 9-8 win in extra innings Saturday in Austin.
Though Concordia was the victor of the series and regular season finale, the War Hawks would have the last laugh as they remain qualified for the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament next week. The Tornados (14-23, 11-19 ASC) end the season on the outside looking in.
McMurry (20-17, 14-15 ASC) is the No. 7 seed in the tournament and will face No. 6 UT Dallas in the first round on Thursday, May 5 at 10 a.m. in Cleveland, Miss.
The War Hawks fell behind early thanks to a five run third inning by CTX, but they never gave up. With an early run on the board courtesy of a Cayleigh England double, McMurry went on to tie things up in the fifth with a four run rally.
Angelica Abila started the comeback with an RBI single to score Mercedes Camacho, then England struck again with a two-RBI single to bring home Abila and Grace Duecker. Jessika Truax joined the parade after, tripling down the right field line to bring home another.
Abila added a triple in the sixth inning, once again bringing home Camacho. Then Abila later scored on a bunt single by Duecker, making for six unanswered runs and a 7-5 lead. The Tornadoes responded with two runs of their own, re-tying the game.
After a scoreless seventh tossed by pitcher Baylee Fulps, both teams headed to extra innings. McMurry seemed in good shape thanks to a sac fly from Duecker to score Abila, but CTX scored the tying and winning runs in just three plate appearances to win it.
Fulps proved to be McMurry's most effective pitcher of the day, tossing 4.0 relief innings with two runs allowed and two strikeouts. She did not allow a walk and scattered six hits. Meanwhile, CTX turned back to its ace Bailey Tisdale who picked up the win in 4.0 innings.
England and Abila had three-hit days, helping the former achieve a season-high and the latter extend a nine-game hitting streak. Camacho had a pair of hits – a single and double – while Duecker and Truax had one each.
The ASC Championship Tournament is next on the docket, set to run May 5-7 in Cleveland, Miss. Belhaven – the top seed in the tournament – will partner with Delta State University and serve as the host school.
The War Hawks and Comets will be the first game of the tournament, starting Thursday, May 5 at 10 a.m. The winner will advance to Game 3 against Mary Hardin-Baylor at 4 p.m. and the loser will be eliminated.
For more information on the tournament, click here.
