AUSTIN, TEXAS – Freshman pitcher Cooper Marshall spotlighted game one of a three-game American Southwest Conference series Friday, April 21.
 
Head coach Josh Lee's McMurry University War Hawks, seeking to turn around recent rough fortunes in conference play, staked themselves to a 2-0 lead through seven and a half frames due, in large part, to Marshall's sterling start. The Boerne, Texas native made things very difficult on the Concordia University offense during his eight-plus innings on the hill, dancing around five Tornados hits and not allowing a home side runner to third base over the first seven innings.
 
However, Concordia broke through with one run in the eighth and tied it in the ninth with four fielder's choices and an error. They eventually plated the winning score in the 10^th due to a hit batsman, error., sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch.
 
Marshall, registering the longest outing of his first year with the Maroon and White, struck out six, tying a single-game personal best. Sophomore outfielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) tallied two hits and drove in a run; junior shortstop Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas) tripled and scored; and sophomore infielder Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) singled and drove in a run to top a two-run, and fellow sophomore infielder Dylan Abbott (San Angelo, Texas) doubled to help lead a seven-hit offensive attack.
 
The War Hawks resume the weekend set with a doubleheader against Concordia Saturday, April 22. Start time is 12 p.m.