McMurry University baseball split a weekend series with LeTourneau University in Longview, winning 10-2, losing 9-3 and winning 8-3.
In the game Friday, April 12, coach Josh Lee's team scored one run in the second inning, three times in the third, one in the fourth, four in the sixth and one in the ninth. Junior outfielder Xavier Escobar (Buda, Texas) advanced to third base in the second and junior infielder Nolan Scherencel (Arlington, Texas) scored on a wild pitch. In the third, junior infielder Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas) doubled down the left field line for a RBI, Scherencel went to third and junior outfielder Casey Turner (Kingwood, Texas) crossed home plate. Escobar then singled to center field for a 2 RBI, scoring Beach and Scherencel. In the fourth, Scherencel grounded out to first base for a RBI, Turner advanced to second and sophomore catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas) went home. In the sixth, Scherencel homered for a 3 RBI and Turner and junior infielder Josh Dyer (Albany, Texas) also scored. Junior outfielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) then advanced to third and Escobar went home on a wild pitch. In the ninth, sophomore infielder Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) homered. McMurry had 14 hits with contributions from Carpenter, junior infielder Ty Nelson (Scottsdale, Arizona) (3), Hood (3), Smosna, Turner (2), Scherencel, Beach, and Escobar (2). Smosna stole a base.
Freshman lefty Braydon Durst (Fredericksburg, Texas) threw five innings and struck out three batters to even his record at 4-4. Junior righty Bryson Morrill (Trophy Club, Texas) threw four innings and struck out two.
In the first game Saturday, April 13, McMurry scored once in the sixth inning and twice in the seventh. Junior infielder Josh Mueller (Stamford, Texas) reached on a fielding error by the first baseman in the sixth and Smosna scored. In the seventh, Smosna advanced to second on a wild pitch and Nelson crossed home plate on a throwing error by the catcher. Turner then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and got to second on a throwing error by the second baseman, Scherencel went to third and Smosna scored. McMurry collected six hits with contributions from Carpenter, Nelson, Smosna, Mueller, Beach and Escobar. Beach stole a base.
Freshman righty Ethan Wendel (Louise, Texas), who threw 2.2 innings and struck out three, was given the loss. Sophomore lefty Trey Gomez (Abilene, Texas) threw 2.1 innings and struck out four, and freshman righty David Perez (Bay City, Texas) threw one inning and struck out one.
In Saturday's second game, McMurry scored two runs each in the first and third innings, one in the fifth and three in the sixth. Hood doubled to right center for a 2 RBI in the first, scoring Nelson and Carpenter. In the third, Hood grounded into a double play from the shortstop to second baseman to first baseman, Nelson was thrown out, but Carpenter got to third and Escobar went home. Still in the third, Smosna singled to center field for a RBI and Carpenter scored. In the fifth, Hood singled to right center for a RBI, Nelson advanced to third and Carpenter crossed home plate. In the sixth, Carpenter doubled down the left field line for a 2 RBI, scoring Escobar and Beach. Nelson then singled to first base and got to second on a throwing error by the first baseman, and Carpenter went to third and scored on a throwing error by the first baseman. McMurry got 13 hits with contributions from Carpenter (3), Nelson (4), Hood (2), Smosna, Scherencel, and Beach (2). Nelson, Smosna and Beach each stole a base.
Sophomore righty Hunter Poe (Midland, Texas) threw seven innings and struck out eight to even his record at 2-2. junior righty Jonathan Enriquez (Galveston, Texas) threw one inning and struck out one, and junior righty Gabriel Aragon (Fort Worth, Texas) also threw one inning and struck out one.
McMurry, 17-16 overall and 9-9 in the American Southwest Conference, plays for the last time this season at Walt Driggers Field against Concordia University next weekend with games at 7 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday.
