BELTON, TEXAS – So many memories to sift through.
 
After capturing the hearts of so many connected to McMurry University for better than four months, a narrow 1-0 loss to American Southwest Conference tournament host and top-seeded Mary-Hardin-Baylor Saturday, May 13, may only linger for a short time for head coach David McNally's program. The bigger picture to take a look at includes a four-person Class of 2023 that stepped forward on and off the field as leaders in many ways, a pitching staff that reeled off 10 successive complete games at one stage, a defense that challenged some of the conference and region's best opponents; and an offense that always seemed at the ready for the big hit and the big situation.
 
"I'm not sure there is much more to be said about such a special group of women," McNally noted as the War Hawks closed a 26-15 campaign. "They have done everything our coaching staff has asked and more. They've represented the campus in a first-class manner on and off the field and brought this program into the upper echelon of the ASC, the region, and beyond."
 
"It's an indelible stamp that they've left," he added. "At the end of the day, the most important thing to me is that they are just such wonderful people. I can't wait to see how the four seniors impact the world in their careers and lives, and the future of our program is in great hands with the individuals who are returning."
 
McMurry's penchant for rallies on the Crusaders' Dee Dillon Field was nearly recognized again in the elimination contest. After a solo home run put them down 1-0 in the sixth, freshman pinch hitter Miranda Soileau (Houston, Texas) belted a drive to left-center that had the crowd rising to its feet before it landed just short of the fence for an out. It was more of the same in the seventh, as two more freshmen, Trista Brown (Crosby, Texas) and Bre Barajas (Abilene, Texas), hit lasers caught for a line drive out and snagged for a bang-bang ground out to end the game.
 
Senior pitcher Jenna Lewis (Hearne, Texas), who re-wrote the single-season record book with 12 wins, 99 strikeouts, and 17 complete games among her totals, ended the season just as she had performed in each start. She struck out four, didn't surrender a walk, and was touched for only two hits.