CLEBURNE, TX - The McMurry War Hawks opened their SCAC Championship Tournament run with an 11-6 victory over the #5 seed Hendrix College at La Moderna Field in Cleburne, Texas.
The War Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Tatum Black and
Kaden Buske reached base and quickly came around to score after
Collin Bruning reached on a dropped fly ball.
Dru Ohmstede then brought Bruning home with a sacrifice fly, giving McMurry a quick 3-0 advantage.
McMurry kept the pressure on in the second inning.
Beckham Paul singled, stole two bases, and was brought home by an RBI double from Buske.
Blake Risko followed with a sacrifice fly to score Black, extending the lead to 5-0.
Hendrix answered with three runs in the top of the third, but the War Hawks immediately responded.
Scout Smith drew a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Paul. Moments later, Buske hit an RBI single to bring in
Kia'i Sylvester, making it 7-3.
The offensive clinic continued in the fourth inning. Smith ripped an RBI double to center field to score Ohmstede.
Diego Flores then singled to center, driving in Sylvester to push the McMurry lead to 9-3.
After a scoreless fifth for both sides, Hendrix managed a solo home run in the top of the sixth. McMurry's starting pitcher,
Hunter Poe, kept the Hendrix offense largely in check during this middle stretch to maintain the lead.
In the seventh inning, Bruning crushed a triple to left-center and scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-4.
Hendrix fought back with two runs in the top of the eighth, but McMurry answered again when Paul lifted his second sacrifice fly of the day to score Sylvester.
Reliever
Adam Trevino slammed the door in the ninth inning, striking out three batters to secure the 11-6 victory.
Top Performers
- Kaden Buske: The outfielder was an offensive catalyst, recording a bunt single, an RBI double, and an RBI single to help build McMurry's early lead.
- Hunter Poe: The starting pitcher earned his fifth win of the season, tossing 6.2 innings, striking out six, and battling through a tough Hendrix lineup.
- Scout Smith: Reached base consistently as the designated hitter, drawing two walks, scoring twice, and driving in a run with a well-placed double in the fourth inning.
- Beckham Paul: Showcased great situational hitting and speed, tallying two sacrifice flies, a single, two stolen bases, and two RBIs.
On Deck
McMurry heads into a winner's bracket matchup against #1 seed Texas Lutheran (28-12; 21-9 SCAC) on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00 a.m. No games will be played on Friday due to rain.
