McMurry University baseball split a weekend series with Howard Payne University at Walt Driggers Field, losing 10-8, winning 3-2 and falling, in 15 innings, 19-18.
In the only game Friday, Feb. 23, coach Josh Lee's team scored once in the first inning, three times in the second and four times in the fifth. Sophomore third baseman Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) got things going in the first when he advanced to second on a balk and junior center fielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) scored on a balk. In the second, Carpenter reached first on an error by the shortstop for an RBI that sent junior left fielder Xavier Escobar (Buda, Texas) home. Hood then singled to right field for an RBI which allowed junior shortstop Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas) to go to third and Carpenter to score. Also in the second, senior first baseman Dylan Abbott (San Angelo, Texas) singled to first base for an RBI that advanced Hood to third and Beach to home. The opponent got six runs across in the third to take the lead. McMurry got the lead back in the fifth when junior designated hitter Casey Turner (Kingwood, Texas) doubled for a 2 RBI which scored junior second baseman Ty Nelson (La Vernia, Texas) and sophomore catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas). Also in the fifth, Escobar singled to second base for an RBI and Turner scored. Beach advanced to second, Carpenter went to third and Escobar was sent home on a wild pitch. The opponent retook the lead for good in the eighth. McMurry had 15 hits with contributions from Carpenter (2), Beach, Hood (3), Abbott, Smosna, Turner (3), sophomore right fielder Tatum Black (Friendswood, Texas) and Escobar (3).
McMurry used five pitchers with freshman righty David Perez (Bay City, Texas) being given the loss. Freshman lefty Braydon Durst (Fredericksburg, Texas) threw 2.1 innings and struck out two batters, sophomore righty Jerek Pena (Ira, Texas) threw 3.2 innings and struck out five, Perez threw one inning, junior righty Jonathan Enriquez (Galveston, Texas) threw 1.2 innings and struck out two and senior righty Dylan Schafer (Cibolo, Texas) threw a portion of an inning.
In the first game Saturday, Feb. 24, McMurry scored one run each in the first, third and sixth innings. Smosna singled, in the first inning, to third base for an RBI that sent Beach to third and Carpenter home. In the third inning, Turner singled to third for an RBI which advanced Smosna to second and allowed Abbott to score. In the sixth inning, Escobar reached first on an error by the shortstop and Nelson crossed home plate. McMurry got six hits with contributions from Carpenter, Smosna (2), Turner, Nelson and Escobar.
Freshman righty Ethan Wendel (Louis, Texas) threw 4.2 innings, striking out three, and junior righty Bryson Morrill (Trophy Club, Texas), who got his first win of the season, threw 2.1 innings, striking out one.
Saturday's second contest resembled a football game. Both teams scored twice in the first inning, the opponent scored five runs in the second and McMurry responded with three in the second and two in the third, the opponent outscored McMurry 3-2 in the fourth, McMurry scored once in the seventh, both teams scored three each in the ninth and twice in the 13th, and the opponent outscored McMurry 4-3 in the 15th.
Hood ignited the offense in the first inning by doubling to right field for an RBI, sending Beach to third and Carpenter home. Hood then advanced to third and Beach scored on a wild pitch. In the second, Turner doubled to right field for a 3 RBI, allowing Smosna, Hood and Carpenter to score. Beach reached first on error by the right fielder and Carpenter and Escobar went home. In the
fourth, Abbott hit a fly to right field for an RBI and Smosna scored. Nelson doubled to center field for an RBI and Turner crossed home plate. In the seventh, Turner grounded out to second base for an RBI and Hood scored. In the ninth, Turner doubled to center field for an RBI that allowed Smosna to go to third and Hood to go home. Turner then advanced to third and Smosna scored on an error by the center fielder. Also in the ninth, junior designated hitter Nolan Scherencel (Arlington, Texas) reached first on an error by the shortstop and Turner scored. In the 13th inning, Hood doubled for an RBI and Carpenter went home. Smosna reached first on an error by the shortstop and Hood scored. In the 15th, freshman shortstop Javier Rosales (San Antonio, Texas) homered for a 3 RBI that allowed Carpenter and Escobar to cross home plate as well. McMurry had 16 hits with contributions from Carpenter (2), Rosales, Hood (5), Smosna, Turner (2), Scherencel, Abbott (2) and Nelson (2).
McMurry used eight pitchers with junior righty Dalton Enberg (Llano, Texas) being given the loss. Junior righty Gabriel Aragon (Fort Worth, Texas) threw two innings and struck out one, sophomore lefty Trey Gomez (Abilene, Texas) threw 2.1 innings and struck out three, sophomore righty Will Cooper (Del Rio, Texas) threw 2.2 innings and struck out four, junior righty Grayson Winter (Buda, Texas) threw one inning and struck out one, Schafer threw one inning, sophomore righty Hunter Poe (Midland, Texas) threw five innings and struck out four and sophomore righty Patrick Wiggins (Magnolia, Texas) threw one inning and struck out one.
McMurry, 4-5, plays at the University of Dallas in Irving at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
