ABILENE, TX - It was a long, hard-fought day at Walt Driggers Field as the McMurry War Hawks split a tense conference doubleheader against the University of St. Thomas on February 28th. After dropping a heart-wrenching 10-inning decision in the opener, 3-2, the War Hawks responded with resilience in the nightcap, taking a 2-1 victory behind stellar pitching and clutch late-game hitting.
Game 1: St. Thomas 3, McMurry 2 (10 Innings)
The opening game was a defensive battle that went to extra innings. After two scoreless frames, the War Hawks' offense sparked to life in the bottom of the third inning.
Kaden Buske started the rally by reaching on an error, and a sacrifice bunt by
Tatum Black moved him into scoring position. After
Collin Bruning drew a walk,
Scout Smith reached on a fielding error that allowed Buske to cross the plate for the game's first run. Moments later,
Dru Ohmstede delivered a clutch single to shortstop, driving in Bruning to give McMurry a 2-0 advantage.
St. Thomas responded in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to cut the lead, eventually tying the game later in the inning. The game then settled into a pitcher's duel. Starter
Braydon Durst worked 3.2 innings before handing the ball to
David Perez, who was dominant in relief. Perez silenced the Celts' bats, throwing 5.1 shutout innings and striking out five batters to keep the War Hawks in the game as regulation ended tied 2-2.
In the top of the 10th inning, St. Thomas capitalized on a McMurry defensive miscue to scratch across the go-ahead run. The War Hawks threatened in the bottom of the inning but could not find the equalizer, falling 3-2 in a tough extra-inning loss.
Game 2: McMurry 2, St. Thomas 1
Looking to turn their fortunes around in the second game, the War Hawks turned to starting pitcher
Hagen Tate, who delivered a masterful performance. Tate baffled the St. Thomas lineup for 6.2 innings, racking up eight strikeouts while allowing just one earned run.
The game remained a scoreless deadlock until the bottom of the fifth inning.
Collin Bruning provided the spark McMurry needed, launching a solo home run to put the War Hawks up 1-0. St. Thomas managed to knot the score at 1-1 in the top of the seventh on a wild pitch, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the bottom of the eighth, the War Hawks manufactured the deciding run.
Jeremiah Enriquez drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Beckham Paul. With two outs,
Tatum Black stepped up and delivered a clutch single, driving in Enriquez to reclaim the lead, 2-1.
\The drama wasn't over, as St. Thomas loaded the bases in the top of the ninth.
Adam Trevino, who entered to close the game, inducing a line-out to end the threat and secure the split for McMurry.
Top Performers
Hagen Tate: Tate was electric in his Game 2 start, dominating the mound with 8 strikeouts over 6.2 innings while allowing only 3 hits and 1 earned run.
David Perez: Perez provided a terrific effort in relief in Game 1, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings and striking out 5 batters, allowing zero runs to keep the War Hawks alive into extra innings.
Collin Bruning: Bruning provided the power for the offense, scoring a run in Game 1 and blasting a solo home run in Game 2 to break a scoreless tie.
Tatum Black: Black hit the game-winning RBI single in the 8th inning of Game 2 to secure the victory for McMurry.
On Deck:
Baseball will next head to Arkansas to play a series against the University of the Ozarks, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, March 6th at 3:00 pm.
