GEORGETOWN, Texas – McMurry University Baseball attacked with 13 runs over the first three innings in its midweek road contest against Southwestern, sailing past the Pirates by a 16-9 final Tuesday evening in Georgetown, Texas.
The War Hawks (13-15) jumped to a substantial lead in the second inning with 10 runs, erasing a 3-2 deficit after one frame. McMurry never looked back from there, keeping the Pirates (10-14) at bay.
A trio of underclassmen emerged with big days at the plate, including sophomore Blake Beach with two RBI singles to score three runs in the second inning. Freshman centerfielder Koy Carpenter led the way with four hits from the leadoff spot, including three singles and a double, while scoring three runs. Freshman catcher Logan Mercer joined Beach with three hits, including an RBI triple.
The War Hawks started with two runs in the first inning, lifting the lid with an RBI single from Josh Dyer to score Beach. The second run came on a sac fly from Dylan Lee to bring home Nick Hamel.
After falling behind 3-2 after Southwestern tacked on three runs, McMurry went off to the races with a 10 run inning. Beach started and ended the scoring with RBI hits. Hamel brought home two runs with a single, then two more scored on an RBI groundout and an error. Mercer's triple and Carpenter's double brought home two more runs, then Beach capped it off with his two-RBI single.
McMurry's lone run in the middle innings came from Braden Fryer, who ripped a solo shot to left field to make it 14-6 in the sixth inning. The War Hawks then added two more in the ninth on a sac fly by Dyer and a wild pitch to score Carpenter.
Hamel had two hits on the day, while Dyer, Fryer and senior Christian Oliver added one each. McMurry had a 15-11 advantage in the hit column.
Freshman Chris Martin improved to a 2-0 record on the mound, earning the win with 3.0 innings and four strikeouts. Fellow freshman Titus Ashton ate 2.0 innings, while Dylan Schafer, Clayton Banks, Grayson Winter and Hamel all pitched an inning, respectively. Banks and Hamel – both upperclassmen – had two strikeouts in their frame.
With its 13th win today, McMurry matches its highest win total since 2018.
McMurry returns home for its crosstown showdown with conference rival Hardin-Simmons this weekend, set to begin Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field. The series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m.
