AUSTIN, TX - The McMurry War Hawks battled to a split decision in their doubleheader against Concordia on March 14 in Austin. The War Hawks stumbled in game one, dropping a 9-1 contest, but stormed back with a resounding 16-4 offensive explosion to capture game two.
Game 1: Concordia 9, McMurry 1
In the first game, the War Hawks' offense struggled, mustering only 4 hits. Concordia seized an early lead, plating one run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout. The hosts stretched their advantage to 2-0 in the third inning with an RBI single.
McMurry threatened at the top of the fifth when
Dru Ohmstede was hit by a pitch and
Kia'i Sylvester singled to right field, but both runners were ultimately stranded. The War Hawks finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning.
Beckham Paul singled, and
Collin Bruning followed with a double to right-center, allowing Paul to score on a shortstop error and cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, Concordia quickly answered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth , then pulled away for good with a four-run seventh inning and a two-run eighth inning.
Starting pitcher
Braydon Durst took the loss for the War Hawks, tossing 5.1 innings, striking out three, and allowing three earned runs.
Game 2: McMurry 16, Concordia 4
The second game of the afternoon saw a massive turnaround as the McMurry offense erupted for 16 runs on 17 hits. After Concordia scored in the first, the War Hawks responded with six runs in the second inning.
Kaden Buske doubled,
Tatum Black reached on an error to score
Blake Risko, and
Beckham Paul and
Collin Bruning both delivered RBI hits.
Dru Ohmstede added a two-run double, and Risko capped the inning with an RBI single.
Concordia tried to claw back, plating one run in the third and two in the fourth to slice McMurry's lead to 6-4. However, McMurry decisively slammed the door with another six-run outburst in the sixth inning. The frame included Risko's second RBI single of the day, an RBI walk by Buske, a two-run single from Black, and an RBI groundout by Paul.
The War Hawks added four insurance runs in the seventh: an RBI single by Sylvester, a two-run single by
Jeremiah Enriquez, and an RBI single by Bruning, sealing the 16-4 win.
Top Performers
Collin Bruning: Collected four hits on the day, including a double in Game 1, and went 3-for-6 with two RBIs in Game 2.
Trey Gomez: Pitched 3.2 perfect innings in relief of Game 2, with five strikeouts.
Dru Ohmstede: Went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two RBIs, a walk, and three runs scored in Game 2.
Blake Risko: Finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a walk, and three runs scored in Game 2.
On Deck:
The War Hawks open their series at Walt Driggers Field against Hendrix College next Friday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m.
