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Contributed by: Dave Beyer, McMurry Sports Information Director
ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University's baseball team might be going retro over the next week or so and listening to the Bee Gees' music, after its 6-5 win at Belhaven University. With the win, the War Hawks' hopes for a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) post-season playoff berth are "stayin' alive."
To earn a spot in the 2016 NCCAA Central Region tourney, the War Hawks 17-20 need to sweep next weekend's three-game series versus University of the Ozarks at Walt Driggers Field. Any loss and they are out.
That made Saturday's series finale at Belhaven the first of four critical games with McM's back to the wall. After dropping a doubleheader on Friday, McM bounced back with a clutch effort versus the Blazers.
In the first inning, Noah Clarkson dribbled a one-out single to shortstop ad took second on Ty Kirk's walk. Clarkson came all the way around to score on a fielding error at short for the 1-0 McM lead. BU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, only to have the War Hawks retake the upper hand in the third, after Tyler Jenkin's, RBI single plated Kirk with the go-ahead run.
McMurry stretched its advantage to 4-1 in the fourth, thanks to a pair of unearned runs. Taylor Ward had a leadoff single. Patrick Adams followed with a single to center that was misplayed, allowing Ward to score and Adams to move all the way to third. Randy Crevier's ground out to second got the RBI and a three-run cushion in place for the War Hawks.
McM's offensive surge continued in the seventh inning when - with Jenkins on second - sophomore Nicholas Moore belted a two-run home run to left. Moore's second homer of the season - and first since opening day of the 2016 - put the War Hawks on top, 6-1.
And the needed every one of those runs, as it turned out.
McM's bullpen once again struggled in the late innings. Reliever Will Dunlap was unable to record an out, surrendering three-consecutive hits and a walk. All four runners would eventually score, before Juan Valadez could restore order after picking up for Dunlap. Valadez kept the Blazers in check the rest of the way for the 6-5 win.
Starter Aaron Donald went 4.2 innings and scattered nine hits and allowed one run. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Jenkins took the hill in relief of Donald and was the winning pitcher. Jenkins (3-1) went 2.1 innings and gave up just one hit.
Kirk, Jenkins, Ward and Adams each collected a pair of hits for McM. Jenkins and Moore had two RBI, apiece.
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ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University's baseball team might be going retro over the next week or so and listening to the Bee Gees' music, after its 6-5 win at Belhaven University. With the win, the War Hawks' hopes for a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) post-season playoff berth are "stayin' alive."
To earn a spot in the 2016 NCCAA Central Region tourney, the War Hawks 17-20 need to sweep next weekend's three-game series versus University of the Ozarks at Walt Driggers Field. Any loss and they are out.
That made Saturday's series finale at Belhaven the first of four critical games with McM's back to the wall. After dropping a doubleheader on Friday, McM bounced back with a clutch effort versus the Blazers.
In the first inning, Noah Clarkson dribbled a one-out single to shortstop ad took second on Ty Kirk's walk. Clarkson came all the way around to score on a fielding error at short for the 1-0 McM lead. BU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, only to have the War Hawks retake the upper hand in the third, after Tyler Jenkin's, RBI single plated Kirk with the go-ahead run.
McMurry stretched its advantage to 4-1 in the fourth, thanks to a pair of unearned runs. Taylor Ward had a leadoff single. Patrick Adams followed with a single to center that was misplayed, allowing Ward to score and Adams to move all the way to third. Randy Crevier's ground out to second got the RBI and a three-run cushion in place for the War Hawks.
McM's offensive surge continued in the seventh inning when - with Jenkins on second - sophomore Nicholas Moore belted a two-run home run to left. Moore's second homer of the season - and first since opening day of the 2016 - put the War Hawks on top, 6-1.
And the needed every one of those runs, as it turned out.
McM's bullpen once again struggled in the late innings. Reliever Will Dunlap was unable to record an out, surrendering three-consecutive hits and a walk. All four runners would eventually score, before Juan Valadez could restore order after picking up for Dunlap. Valadez kept the Blazers in check the rest of the way for the 6-5 win.
Starter Aaron Donald went 4.2 innings and scattered nine hits and allowed one run. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Jenkins took the hill in relief of Donald and was the winning pitcher. Jenkins (3-1) went 2.1 innings and gave up just one hit.
Kirk, Jenkins, Ward and Adams each collected a pair of hits for McM. Jenkins and Moore had two RBI, apiece.
More...