McMurry University baseball started the 2024 season against University of Redlands in Redlands, California, dropping the first game 9-2, winning the second 9-2 and falling in the finale 6-4.

In the opener Friday, Feb. 9, coach Josh Lee's team scored once in the second inning and once in the third. The War Hawks got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when junior outfielder Casey Turner (Kingwood, Texas) reached on a fielder's choice, sophomore catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas) advanced to third and sophomore infielder Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) scored. In the third inning with Redlands up 2-1, Hood singled to right field and junior infielder Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas) got to third base and reached home on a fielding error to tie the score. Redlands added more runs in the third, fifth and eighth innings.

McMurry had six hits in 32 at-bats and one run batted in by Turner in the second. Sophomore righty Cooper Marshall (Boerne, Texas) took the loss on the mound.

In the first game Saturday, Feb. 10, the visitors got payback in a big way, scoring one run in the second inning, six in the third, one in the sixth and one in the eighth. After spotting the opponent a 1-0 lead in the first, Smosna singled in the second inning and got to second base on a baseman's error and this sent Hood home. The floodgates then opened as Hood started the third inning with a single that allowed junior infielder Ty Nelson ( Scottsdale, Arizona) and junior outfielder Koy Carpenter  (La Vernia, Texas) to cross home plate. Junior infielder Nolan Scherencel (Arlington, Texas) then walked to first, senior infielder Dylan Abbott (San Angelo, Texas) moved to second, Smosna went to third and Hood scored again. Still in the third, Turner grounded out to the shortstop, Scherencel got to second, Abbott advanced to third and Smosna went home. McMurry finished the scoring in its half of the third when junior outfielder Xavier Escobar (Buda, Texas) smashed a single to right field, sending Scherencel and Abbott home. In the sixth inning, Nelson flied out to right field for a sacrifice which enabled Escobar to score on an unearned run. Finally, in the eighth inning, Nelson singled to right field and Escobar scored again.

The War Hawks had 10 hits in 36 at-bats with RBI's by Hood (2), Smosna, Turner and Escobar.

In Saturday's last game, McMurry scored once in the third, once in the fifth and twice in the ninth. McMurry scored in the top of the third when Beach singled, Nelson went to second and Carpenter scored. In the fifth, Nelson flied out to left field and sophomore outfielder Tatum Black (Friendswood, Texas) went home. In the ninth, Beach grounded out to first base, scoring Carpenter. Smosna then tripled to right center field and Hood went home.

McMurry had nine hits in 35 at-bats with RBI's by Beach (2) and Smosna.

Next up for the War Hawks, 1-2 overall, is their home opener against University of St. Thomas from Houston at Walt Driggers Field. First pitch is 4 p.m. Friday with other games at 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday.