McMurry University baseball swept a weekend series with University of the Ozarks at Walt Driggers Field, winning 12-0, 15-9 and 6-5.
In the first game Friday, March 22, coach Josh Lee's team scored twice in the first inning, six times in the fourth and four times in the sixth. Sophomore infielder Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) doubled to right field for an RBI in the first inning and junior outfielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) scored. Junior infielder Nolan Scherencel (Arlington, Texas) then reached first base on an error by the shortstop for an RBI, sophomore catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas) advanced to second and junior infielder Josh Dyer (Albany, Texas) went home. In the fourth, Carpenter singled to right field for an RBI, junior outfielder Xavier Escobar (Buda, Texas) advanced to second and sophomore outfielder Tatum Black (Friendswood, Texas) crossed home plate. Junior infielder Ty Nelson (La Vernia, Texas) then tripled to left field for a 2 RBI, and Carpenter and Escobar both scored. Still in the fourth, Hood doubled to left field for a RBI and Nelson went home. Smosna then homered for a 2 RBI that allowed Hood to score. In the sixth, Hood reached first on an error by the third baseman and got to third, and Nelson crossed home plate. Smosna then advanced to third and Hood scored on a wild pitch. Also in the sixth, junior infielder Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas) singled to left field for a 2 RBI that enabled Junior outfielder Carson Jones (San Antonio, Texas) to go to second, and senior infielder Dylan Abbott (San Angelo, Texas) and Smosna to both cross home plate. McMurry got 12 hits with contributions from Carpenter (3), Nelson (2), Hood (2), Smosna (2), Scherencel, Beach and Escobar. Hood, Smosna and Abbott each stole a base.
Freshman righty Ethan Wendel (Louise, Texas) went the distance in throwing seven innings and striking out six batters to raise his record to 5-0.
In Friday's second game, McMurry scored one run in the first inning, six in the third, three in the fourth, one in the sixth and four in the eighth. Hood singled to left field for an RBI in the first inning and Carpenter scored. In the third, Beach reached first on an error by the third baseman, Black went to third and Dyer crossed home plate. Carpenter then singled to center field for a 2 RBI, allowing Escobar to advance to second and Beach and Black to both score. Still in the third, Nelson singled to center field for a 2 RBI and Carpenter and Escobar both crossed home plate. Also in the third, Hood doubled to right field for an RBI that scored Nelson. In the fourth, Beach tripled to right field for a 2 RBI and sophomore catcher Nick Sobolewski (Abilene, Texas) and Scherencel both went home. Escobar then flied out to right field for a sacrifice RBI and Beach scored. In the sixth, Carpenter singled to center field for an RBI, Escobar advanced to third and Beach went home. In the eighth, Hood singled to center field for a 2 RBI, Nelson moved to second, and Carpenter and Escobar both scored. Scherencel then lined out to left field for a sacrifice RBI and Nelson crossed home plate. Also in the eighth, Smosna singled to left field for an RBI, scoring Hood. McMurry had 15 hits with contributions from Carpenter (2), Nelson (2), Hood (3), Dyer (2), Smosna, Beach (3), and Escobar (2). Carpenter, Dyer, Beach and Escobar each stole a base.
Freshman lefty Braydon Durst (Fredericksburg, Texas) threw five innings and struck out three batters to earn the win. Helping with the save were sophomore righty Cooper Marshall (Boerne, Texas) who threw three innings and struck out three, and junior righty Jonathan Enriquez (Galveston, Texas) who threw one inning and struck out two.
In the game three Saturday, March 23, McMurry scored three times in the first inning, once in the eighth and twice in the ninth. Smosna homered in the first for a 3 RBI, also scoring Dyer and Hood. In the
eighth, Scherencel singled to center field for a RBI, Smosna advanced to second base and Hood went home. In the ninth, Smosna singled to right field to walk off the game driving in two RBI's, Dyer moved to second, and Hood and Jones both crossed home plate. McMurry collected nine hits with contributions from Carpenter, Hood (3), Dyer, Smosna (2), Scherencel and Beach.
Junior righty Bryson Morrill (Trophy Club, Texas) threw two innings and struck out two batters to get the win. Helping were sophomore righty Hunter Poe (Midland, Texas) who threw 4.1 innings and struck out two, and junior righty Gabriel Aragon (Fort Worth, Texas) who threw 2.2 innings and struck out two.
McMurry, 12-10 overall and 7-5 in the American Southwest Conference, hosts University of Dallas in a non-conference game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Walt Driggers Field.
