McMurry University softball swept its first American Southwest Conference series of the season this weekend in Abilene, beating University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 3-2, 3-2 and 6-4.
In the first game, Friday, March 8, both teams scored one run each in the first and fourth innings, but McMurry also got a run in the third. In the first, sophomore shortstop Morgan Faubion (Crosby, Texas) homered to right field and, in the third, senior left fielder Angelica Abila (Lubbock, Texas) homered. In the fourth, junior center fielder Mercedes Camacho (El Paso, Texas) singled to third base for an RBI that sent sophomore third baseman Miranda Soileau (Houston, Texas) home on an error by the third baseman. Coach David McNally's team collected five hits with contributions by Abila, Faubion, Soileau, Camacho and sophomore first baseman Trista Brown (Crosby, Texas).
Fifth-year senior Jenna Lewis (Hearne, Texas), who went the distance in throwing seven innings while striking out four batters, got her first win of the season.
In Friday's second game, McMurry scored three times in the first inning and the opponent scored twice in the seventh. Soileau singled to third base in the first for an RBI, Faubion went to third and Abila scored. Soileau then advanced to second and Faubion crossed home plate. Also in the first, Brown singled to right field for an RBI and Soileau went home. McMurry got eight hits with contributions from Abila, junior second baseman Jade Dickens (Friendswood, Texas), Faubion (2), Soileau, Brown, junior right fielder Tristyn Barton (Belton, Texas) and senior designated player Kate Casey (Thorndale, Texas).
Junior Baylee Fulps (San Angelo, Texas), who went the distance in throwing seven innings while striking out one, got her first victory of the season. Faubion stole two bases.
Friday's games were played at Abilene Christian University because rain made Edwards Field unplayable.
In the finale Saturday, March 9 at Edwards Field, McMurry got a run each in the first and third innings, and two apiece in the fifth and sixth. Faubion started the offense in the first by singling to first base for an RBI and Abila scored. In the third, Soileau singled to left field for an RBI, Abila went to third and junior catcher Morgan Mehaffey (Hamilton, Texas) crossed home plate. In the fifth, Soileau doubled to left field for an RBI, scoring Faubion. Freshman third baseman Elaina Herrera (Belton, Texas) then lined out to center field for a sacrifice RBI, allowing Camacho to advance to third and Soileau to go home. In the sixth, freshman pinch runner Lillian Contreras (Corpus Christi, Texas) advanced to second on a passed ball and then third, while Abila scored on a passed ball. Also in the sixth, Faubion singled to left field for an RBI and Contreras crossed home plate. McMurry collected 10 hits with contributions from Abila (3), Dickens, Faubion (3), Soileau (2), and Casey.
Fulps, who threw three innings and struck out two, got her second win of the season. Freshman pitcher Emmalee Gebhart (Vail, Arizona) got her first save of the season in throwing one inning. Lewis threw three innings and struck out two. Faubion stole two bases while Camacho stole one.
McMurry, 9-3, will be in Orlando, Florida for four games next week. On Tuesday, it plays Hood College at 12:15 p.m. and Saint Mary's College at 2:30 p.m. On Wednesday, it plays Augsburg University at 12:30 p.m. and University of Rochester at 2:30 p.m.
