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Contributed by Dave Beyer, McMurry Sports Information Director
ABILENE, Texas - Tyler Jenkins utilized both his bat and his arm to propel McMurry University to an 8-5 win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Walt Driggers Field. The War Hawks' (13-14) also completed the three-game series sweep of the Crusaders (10-17) and was McM's fourth-consecutive victory.
After McMurry tallied an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, UMHB responded with two runs each in the third and sixth innings off of McM starter Aaron Donald. Both runs were unearned, as a result of War Hawk miscues (McM committed five errors in all, while UMHB had four), leaving McM trailing 4-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the McMurry offense shifted into high gear. Kevin Garza's bases-loaded single - and subsequent throwing error by UMHB - allowed a pair of runs to come home. Jordan Speck's RBI ground out knotted matters at 4-4.
Meanwhile, Jenkins moved from his designated hitter role to the mound in relief of Donald in the sixth inning. Jenkins (2-1) would scatter five hits over 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jenkins helped his own cause from the plate, leading off with a single and taking second on a sacrifice bunt. Nicholas Moore then slapped an RBI single to drive home Jenkins. Noah Clarkson then traded places with Moore by doubling to left to put McM ahead to stay, 6-4.
In the eighth, the War Hawks added some insurance by scoring for the third-consecutive at-bats. McM posted two more runs thanks to Chris Baker's two-out double that drive in Jenkins, who had walked, and Speck (who reached on a double), 8-4.
Juan Valadez, who came on in relief of Jenkins in the eighth, earned his team-leading fifth save of the year. Valadez allowed three hits and one run (in the top of the ninth) in closing out his team's win.
Pacing then War Hawks' 16-hit attack was Jenkins, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and a walk. Clarkson was also 3-for-4, scoring once and driving in one.
Kevin Garza went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI. Speck and Moore each had a pair of hits. Moore had an RBI and scored twice.
In the three-game series with UMHB, the War Hawks banged out a total of 39 hits, including seven of the extra-base variety (five doubles, one triple and one home run).
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