ABILENE, TEXAS – The script to the start of the 2023 season couldn't have gone much better for McMurry University Friday, Feb. 10.
 
Head coach David McNally's War Hawks toppled Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Trinity University 2-1 and 1-0 in front of a near-capacity crowd at Edwards Field in the season opener for both sides. Senior pitchers Jenna Lewis (Hearne, Texas)and Kinleigh Stotts (Covington, Texas) kept the visiting Tigers offense at both with back-to-back complete-game victories.
 
Lewis worked around a third-inning Trinity score behind eight strikeouts and no walks. Her offense came big in clutch situations, too. Junior catcher Kate Casey (Thornton, Texas) smashed a lead-off double in the fourth and came around with the tying run due to a single from freshman designated player Miranda Soileau (Houston, Texas) and a fielder's choice ground out by freshman first baseman Bre Barajas (Abilene, Texas). One inning later, junior outfielder Angelia Abila (Lubbock, Texas) drove a rope shot into the gap in left-center that saw two Trinity outfielders collide, trying to make the play. Sophomore infielder Jade Dickens (Friendswood, Texas) scampered home with the eventual winning score.
 
Stotts was just as magnificent in the circle in the nightcap. She did give up seven hits, but Trinity could never pair them together for scores. Two walks to Abila and freshman infielder Trista Brown (Crosby, Texas), coupled with a passed ball and errant throw to second by the visitor's catcher, scored the game's only run in the home half of the first.
 
McMurry (2-0) resumes its season-opening home stand Saturday, Feb. 11. Southwestern University visits for an 11 a.m. doubleheader.
 
NOTES: The two victories for the Maroon, Black, and White pushed the program's win streak against Trinity to four in a row.