McMurry University softball split a weekend series with LeTourneau University at Edwards Field, winning 8-0, 12-11 in extra innings, and losing 14-3.
In the first game Friday, April 12, coach David McNally's team scored once in the first inning and seven times in the second. Junior right fielder Aliyah Tanguma (Kyle, Texas) reached on a fielder's choice for a RBI in the first, sophomore shortstop Morgan Faubion (Crosby, Texas) advanced to third base and senior left fielder Angelica Abila (Lubbock, Texas) scored. In the second, senior designated player Kate Casey (Thorndale, Texas) reached first on an error by the pitcher and got to second, and freshman shortstop Samantha Gonzales (Hamlin, Texas) crossed home plate. Faubion then singled for a bunt and RBI, Abila moved to second and freshman pinch runner Lillian Contreras (Corpus Christi, Texas) went home. Still in the second, sophomore third baseman Miranda Soileau (Houston, Texas) singled to left field for a RBI, sophomore first baseman Trista Brown (Crosby, Texas) advanced to second, Faubion moved to third and Abila scored. Freshman designated player Sophia Fuller (Eagle River, Alaska) then singled to right field for a 2 RBI, Soileau moved to second, and Brown and Faubion both went home. Also in the second, Casey walked, Gonzales advanced to second, Fuller moved to third and Soileau crossed home plate. Freshman second baseman Kaelyn Rodriguez (Helotes, Texas) then walked, Casey advanced to second, Gonzales went to third and Fuller scored. McMurry did its damage on just five hits with contributions from Abila, Faubion, Soileau, and Fuller (2). Contreras stole a base.
Fifth-year senior Jenna Lewis (Hearne, Texas) went the distance in throwing five innings and striking out six batters to raise her record to 10-4.
In Friday's second game, McMurry scored three runs in the third, six in the fourth, and one each in the sixth, 10th and 11th innings. Faubion flied out to right field for a sacrifice RBI, Abila moved to second, Gonzales advanced to third and Contreras scored. Brown then bunted for a sacrifice RBI, Abila went to third and Gonzales crossed home plate. Still in the third, freshman first baseman/designated player Reaghan Staehely (Mission, Texas) singled to second base for a RBI, scoring Abila. In the fourth, junior catcher Maya Mongelli (Lubbock, Texas) and Barton both homered. Faubion then singled to center field for a RBI, Abila moved to third and junior catcher Sabrina Graf (San Antonio, Texas) went home. Also in the fourth, Brown singled to third base for a RBI, Faubion advanced to third and Abila scored. Staehely then doubled to left field for a 2 RBI, sending junior catcher Morgan Mehaffey (Hamilton, Texas) and Faubion home. In the sixth, Brown singled to right field for a RBI and Faubion crossed home plate. In the 10th, Brown flied out to right field for a sacrifice RBI, Faubion went to third and Gonzales scored. In the 11th, Mongelli singled to the shortstop for a RBI and Staehely went home. McMurry finished with 17 hits with contributions from Abila, Faubion (3), Brown (2), Staehely (3), sophomore outfielder Mikaila Wagner (San Angelo, Texas), Mongelli (2), Barton, Graf (3), and Gonzales. Faubion stole two bases, while Mehaffey and Soileau each stole one.
Both the winning and losing pitchers from game one were called upon to help their teams in the second contest, and Lewis prevailed again as she threw four innings and struck out five batters to increase her record to 11-4. She finished Friday's slate with 11K's. Also pitching were junior utility player Mackenzie McClellan (Devine, Texas), who threw 4.1 innings and struck out two, freshman pitcher Emmalee Gebhart (Vail, Arizona), who threw one inning and struck two, and junior Baylee Fulps (San Angelo, Texas), who threw 1.2 innings and struck out one.
In the game Saturday, April 13, McMurry scored once in the first inning and twice in the fifth. Staehely singled to left field for a RBI and Abila scored. In the fifth, Faubion doubled to left field for a 2 RBI, and Abila and Wagner both went home. McMurry had six hits with contributions from Abila (2), Faubion (2), Staehely and Barton. Faubion stole a base.
Mongelli, who threw 2.1 innings and struck out one, was given the loss. McClellan threw two innings and struck out three.
McMurry, 19-9 overall and 11-7 in the American Southwest Conference, plays next weekend at Concordia University in Austin with games at 3 and 5 p.m. Friday, and noon Saturday.
