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SHAWNEE, Okla. - McMurry University's baseball had to work overtime but, in the end, emerged on top of a 3-0, 11-inning, victory over Dallas Christian College in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region Tournament at Oklahoma Baptist's Bison Field. The War Hawks' (21-20) win advanced them to the second round match-up versus the winner of the (#1) OBU versus (#8) Hillsdale Baptist game on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Both starting pitchers were on the money for the bulk of the game, as neither team would score until McM's explosion in the 11th. McMurry's Garrett Johnston went 7.1 innings and scattered six hits. Johnston struck out five and walked two. Only twice - in the sixth and eighth innings - did runners even reach second base against him.
Neither team got a base hit with a runner on base until then War Hawks Kevin Garza's infield single in the eighth.
But as effective as Johnston was for John Byington's McM squad, DCC's Cal Westland had an impressive outing as well. Westland pitched 10.1 innings and, despite taking the loss, threw 10 shutout frames.
In the 11th, Westland gave up a leadoff single to McM shortstop Noah Clarkson. Ty Kirk drew a walk to put Clarkson into scoring position with none out. Chase Bledsoe's grounder to the pitcher allowed both runners to move up.
That brought first baseman Chris Baker to the plate. And Baker delivered with a single to center that drove in Clarkson with what would prove to be the deciding run.
That resulted in a pitching change for the Crusaders, with Alex Dobbie taking the Hill for Westland. Hill's first batter was Matthew Chalk, who already had a pair of hits in the game. Chalk crushed a 1-2 pitch to right-center for a double that drove in two more runs.
Chalk finished the afternoon going 3-for-5 in the War Hawks' eight-hit attack. Chalk was McM's lone player with multiple hits.
Meanwhile, freshman closer Juan Valadez (4-2) was lights-out in his longest stint of the year to earn the victory. Over his 3.2 innings of work, Valadez allowed just one hit. He struck out six and walked three, one intentionally.
The win over DCC also avenged an earlier 6-5 loss to the Crusaders in Abilene.
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Both starting pitchers were on the money for the bulk of the game, as neither team would score until McM's explosion in the 11th. McMurry's Garrett Johnston went 7.1 innings and scattered six hits. Johnston struck out five and walked two. Only twice - in the sixth and eighth innings - did runners even reach second base against him.
Neither team got a base hit with a runner on base until then War Hawks Kevin Garza's infield single in the eighth.
But as effective as Johnston was for John Byington's McM squad, DCC's Cal Westland had an impressive outing as well. Westland pitched 10.1 innings and, despite taking the loss, threw 10 shutout frames.
In the 11th, Westland gave up a leadoff single to McM shortstop Noah Clarkson. Ty Kirk drew a walk to put Clarkson into scoring position with none out. Chase Bledsoe's grounder to the pitcher allowed both runners to move up.
That brought first baseman Chris Baker to the plate. And Baker delivered with a single to center that drove in Clarkson with what would prove to be the deciding run.
That resulted in a pitching change for the Crusaders, with Alex Dobbie taking the Hill for Westland. Hill's first batter was Matthew Chalk, who already had a pair of hits in the game. Chalk crushed a 1-2 pitch to right-center for a double that drove in two more runs.
Chalk finished the afternoon going 3-for-5 in the War Hawks' eight-hit attack. Chalk was McM's lone player with multiple hits.
Meanwhile, freshman closer Juan Valadez (4-2) was lights-out in his longest stint of the year to earn the victory. Over his 3.2 innings of work, Valadez allowed just one hit. He struck out six and walked three, one intentionally.
The win over DCC also avenged an earlier 6-5 loss to the Crusaders in Abilene.
More...