McMurry University baseball split a weekend series with University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, losing 8-3, winning 3-2 and losing 11-3.
In the game Friday, March 15, McMurry scored once in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Sophomore infielder Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) singled to right field in the fifth for an RBI and junior outfielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) scored. In the sixth, junior outfielder Xavier Escobar (Buda, Texas) grounded out to the shortstop for an RBI, junior outfielder Casey Turner (Kingwood, Texas) went to third base and junior infielder Nolan Scherencel (Arlington, Texas) crossed home plate. In the seventh, Scherencel singled to right field for an RBI, sophomore catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas) advanced to second and junior infielder Josh Dyer (Albany, Texas) scored. McMurry got 16 hits with contributions from Carpenter (2), junior infielder Ty Nelson (Scottsdale, AZ) (2), Hood (2), Dyer, Smosna, Scherencel (4), Turner (3) and Escobar.
Freshman lefty Braydon Durst (Fredericksburg, Texas), who threw four innings and struck out two batters, was given the loss. Junior righty Gabriel Aragon (Fort Worth, Texas) also threw four innings and struck out two.
In the first game Saturday, March 16, McMurry scored once in the second inning and twice in the fourth, while the opponent scored one run each in the third and fourth. The first run came in the second inning when Escobar singled to center field for an RBI and Dyer scored. In the fourth, junior infielder Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas) tripled to center field for an RBI and Turner went home. Escobar then singled through the left side for an RBI, scoring Beach. McMurry had eight hits with contributions from Nelson, Hood (2), Scherencel, Beach (2) and Escobar (2). Beach stole a base.
Freshman righty Ethan Wendel (Louise, Texas), who threw 5.2 innings and struck out three, raised his record to 4-0 on the season. Junior righty Bryson Morrill (Trophy Club, Texas) got his first save of the season by throwing 1.1 innings and striking out one while not allowing a hit.
In the finale Saturday, McMurry scored one run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Hood singled to the pitcher for an RBI in the fifth and Nelson crossed home plate. In the sixth, Beach singled to third on a bunt and got to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. Sophomore outfielder Tatum Black (Friendswood, Texas) then went to third on the same throwing error and Dyer scored. Still in the sixth, Carpenter singled up the middle for an RBI, Beach advanced to third and Black went home. McMurry collected nine hits with contributions from Carpenter (3), Nelson, Hood (2), Smosna, Black and Beach. Smosna stole a base.
Sophomore righty Hunter Poe (Midland, Texas), who threw 2.2 innings and struck out three, was given the loss. Sophomore lefty Trey Gomez (Abilene, Texas) threw two innings and sophomore righty Will Cooper (Del Rio, Texas) threw 2.1 innings and struck out four.
McMurry, 9-10 overall and 4-5 in the American Southwest Conference, hosts University of the Ozarks next weekend at Walt Driggers Field with games at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. Saturday.
