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Contributed by Dave Beyer, McMurry Sports Information Director
BROWNWOOD, Texas - A late-inning rally by the McMurry University baseball team came up short, falling to Howard Payne University, 11-7, at Don Shepard Park. The loss left the War Hawks at 2-4 on the year, while the Yellow Jackets improved to 3-1.
HJPU jumped out to a 6-0 lead on McMurry after just two innings of play. McM starter and pitcher of record Benjamin Russell (0-1) was tagged for six hits and all six earned runs. Russell settled down to pitch a scoreless third.
In the top of the fourth, McM finally broke through for a pair of runs. An RBI single by Danny Perkins drove in one run and a grounder by Chase Bledsoe - which was misplayed but still produced an RBI - accounted for the other that made it 6-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, a pair of walks spelled the end for Russell's day, the first of which scored on two stolen bases and a wild pitch. With two out, Michael Hoffman came on to retire the next batter on a ground out to third to end the inning.
Hoffman allowed nothing in the fifth and gave up one earned run in the sixth for his 2.1 innings of work. The War Hawks had added a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth, to make it 8-6 heading into the final three frames.
Chris Baker led off the seventh with a triple. Baker scored when the very next batter, designated hitter Tyler Jenkins, grounded out to third to cut the margin to 8-7.
The War Hawks put the potential go-ahead runs on base when catcher Blaine McRay and centerfielder Kevin Garza both drew walks in the eighth. However, with one out, the next two batters hit into force outs to leave McM still down.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Yellow Jackets pushed across three insurance runs to salt away the game.
Perkins finished the day by going 3-for-6 with two RBI. Baker and Jenkins both went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, with Jenkins knocking in a pair of RBI, as well.
McMurry hosts Belhaven University for a three-game series, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field. Saturday's single game is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
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