McMurry University baseball lost its home finale to Concordia University at Walt Driggers Field, winning 12-5, and falling 5-3 and, in extra innings, 14-13.
Possible storms Saturday changed the schedule.
In the game Thursday, April 18, coach Josh Lee's team scored once each in the second and third innings, erupted for eight runs in the fourth, and scored twice more in the seventh.
As a sign of things to come, sophomore catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas), in the second inning, launched the first of his two homers in the game. In the third, junior infielder Ty Nelson (Scottsdale, Arizona) singled to center field for a RBI, scoring junior infielder Blake Beach (Atascocita, Texas). In the fourth, Beach reached first base on an error by the third baseman for a RBI, junior outfielder Casey Turner (Kingwood, Texas) advanced to second, junior infielder Nolan Scherencel (Arlington, Texas) went to third and junior infielder Josh Dyer (Albany, Texas) crossed home plate. Junior outfielder Xavier Escobar (Buda, Texas) then popped up to the second baseman for a sacrifice RBI, Beach moved to second, Turner advanced to third and Scherencel went home. Still in the fourth, junior outfielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) lined out to center field for a sacrifice RBI, scoring Turner. Nelson then singled to left field for a RBI and Beach crossed home plate. Also in the fourth, Smosna hit his second homer for a 3 RBI, and sophomore infielder Riley Hood (Abilene, Texas) and Nelson both went home. Dyer then joined the hit parade with his own homer. In the seventh, sophomore infielder Jeremiah Enriquez (Galveston, Texas) popped up to center field for a sacrifice RBI, Escobar went to third and Beach scored. Hood then doubled to right field for a RBI and Escobar crossed home plate. McMurry had 13 hits with contributions from Nelson (2), Hood (2), Smosna (3), Dyer, Scherencel (2), Turner, Beach and Escobar. Smosna stole a base.
Freshman lefty Braydon Durst (Fredericksburg, Texas) threw 6.1 innings and struck out six batters to get the win. Sophomore righty Will Cooper (Del Rio, Texas) was impressive as the closer for 2.2 innings as he struck out four and didn't allow a hit.
The seniors were recognized Friday, April 19.
In the first game, McMurry scored one run each in the fourth, fifth and ninth innings. Smosna continued his hot streak from Thursday as he nailed his third homer for the series in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Hood singled to right field for a RBI, scoring Carpenter. In the ninth, Carpenter reached on a fielder's choice for a RBI, Escobar was thrown out at second base and junior infielder Josh Mueller (Stamford, Texas) went home. McMurry collected nine hits with contributions from Carpenter (2), Enriquez, Hood (2), Smosna (2), Mueller and Escobar. Beach stole a base.
Junior righty Gabriel Aragon (Fort Worth, Texas), who threw two innings and struck out one, was given the loss. Freshman righty Ethan Wendel (Louise, Texas) threw five innings and struck out five, and junior righty Bryson Morrill (Trophy Club, Texas) threw two innings and struck out two.
In Friday's second game, both teams decided to treat fans to some fireworks as the opponent scored four times in the first inning only to be outdone by the home team's seven runs in the same frame. McMurry added one run in the second, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the 11th. Scherencel singled to center field in the first for a 2 RBI, sending Hood and Enriquez home. Beach then singled to right field for a 2 RBI, Mueller advanced to third and sophomore pitcher Jerek Pena
(Ira, Texas) and Scherencel both scored. Still in the first, Escobar singled to left field for a RBI, Beach went to second and Mueller crossed home plate. Escobar then moved to third and Beach went home. Also in the first, Carpenter singled to left field for a RBI and Escobar crossed home plate. In the second, Hood scored on wild pitch. In the fourth, Hood doubled to right field for a RBI, Enriquez advanced to third and Carpenter crossed home plate. Smosna then singled to left field for a RBI, Hood moved to third and Enriquez scored. In the fifth, Carpenter moved to second on a balk and Escobar went home on a balk. In the 11th, Enriquez singled to left field for a RBI, sophomore outfielder Tatum Black (Friendswood, Texas) advanced to second and Escobar scored. Hood then doubled to center field for a RBI, Enriquez moved to third and Black crossed home plate. McMurry got 17 hits with contributions from Carpenter (2), Black, Enriquez (2), Hood (4), Smosna (3), Scherencel, Mueller, Beach, and Escobar (2). Smosna, Scherencel and Beach each stole a base.
Junior righty Jonathan Enriquez (Galveston, Texas), who threw 4.1 innings and struck out four, was given the loss. Pena, a righty, threw 2.2 innings and struck out two, junior righty Grayson Winter (Buda, Texas) threw 2.1 innings, and sophomore righty Cooper Marshall (Boerne, Texas) didn't allow any hits while striking out one in his 1.2 innings of work.
McMurry University, 18-18 overall and 9-10 in the American Southwest Conference, plays at crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons University April 26-27 with a possible conference tourney berth on the line. Games are 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday.
