Abilene, TX - The McMurry War Hawks prevailed over the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets in a tightly contested game on April 15, 2025, at Walt Driggers Field, with a final score of 6-5.   

The War Hawks took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Collin Bruning hit a single, driving in Ty Nelson to score the game's first run. Collin Bruning and Riley Hood then advanced on a balk by the Yellow Jacket pitcher, allowing Hood to score, putting McMurry ahead 2-0.   

Howard Payne countered in the top of the 2nd inning. A double drove in a runner, and then another runner advanced to third. Shortly after, a groundout to second base allowed another run to score, tying the game 2-2. However, McMurry quickly answered in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Ty Nelson reached first on an error, enabling Josh Mueller to score and putting McMurry back in the lead, 3-2.   

The score remained 3-2 until the top of the 6th inning, when Howard Payne singled, bringing in a run and tying the game at 3-3.   

McMurry regained the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. Xavier Escobar singled, driving in Josh Mueller to score. Then, Ty Nelson doubled, bringing Xavier Escobar home and extending McMurry's lead to 5-3.   

Howard Payne mounted another comeback attempt in the top of the 9th inning. A single brought in a run, and then a double scored another, tying the game 5-5. 

Ultimately, McMurry sealed the victory in the bottom of the 9th when Nolan Scherence hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Michael Smosna, who led off the inning with a triple over the center fielder's head, to score the winning run, making the final score 6-5.   

The War Hawks next play the University of Ozarks in a series in Clarksville, Arkansas starting Thursday, April 17th at 7:00 p.m.