CLEVELAND, Miss. – McMurry University Softball achieved another key milestone in its young history Thursday in Mississippi, winning its first-ever postseason game with a 2-1 win over UT Dallas on the first day of the 2022 American Southwest Conference Championships.

Making their second straight appearance in the postseason tournament, the No. 7 War Hawks (21-17) won a pitcher's duel en route to eliminating the No. 6 Comets (23-18) from contention. McMurry – a fifth-year program – is now 1-1 all-time in conference tournament games.

The War Hawks advanced to the second round elimination game to play No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor, but play was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning due to inclement weather. That game will pick up tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The 2-1 win over the Comets saw junior ace Jenna Lewis toss a complete game victory with one run allowed. Both teams recorded nine hits on the day, but Lewis weathered the storm and forced UTD to strand 11 base runners.

Senior third baseman Emily Michki had a hand in both runs, singling home Angelica Abila in the first inning then bunting her home for the winning run in the fifth inning. Abila and Grace Duecker had back-to-back one out singles to put runners on the corners, allowing Michki to squeeze home the go-ahead tally with a sacrifice bunt.

With two outs in the seventh inning, UTD trailed 2-1 and reached two, but Lewis forced a flyout to secure the win.

Abila led the way for McMurry with three hits and continues to lead the team in batting average and doubles. Jessika Truax and Duecker added a pair of hits each, while Michki and Brianna Martinez added one apiece.

The War Hawks then moved on to play at 4 p.m. against Mary Hardin-Baylor, taking a quick 2-0 lead with back-to-back RBI singles from Michki and Truax in the opening frame. Nationally-ranked UMHB (31-9) answered with two runs in the second before play was suspended midway through.