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Contributed by Dave Beyer, McMurry Director of Athletics Communications and Operations
ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University and Belhaven University split an American Southwest Conference baseball doubleheader Friday at Walt Driggers Field. The War Hawks (8-11, 4-4 ASC) lost the opener to the Blazers (11-8, 3-5 ASC) by a 2-1 score, before bouncing back to take the nightcap, 7-2.
In the first contest, McMurry's Juan Valadez and BU's Tanner Cable were locked in a classic pitchers' duel. Both men tossed complete games in the seven-inning bout, with both surrendering four hits. Cable (3-1) had nine strikeouts compared to four by Valadez (2-2), but the McM hurler walked four and hit two batters.
After the Blazers had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, McM got even in their half of the frame. A leadoff single by Chris Baker was followed by a Noah Clarkson double, with Baker stopping at third. Sophomore catcher Blaine McRay then grounded out to second, allowing Baker to trot home with the tying run.
In the fifth, BU threatened again by loading the bases. However, Valadez worked out of the jam and induced a force out to avert the threat. But in the sixth, the Blazers would scores the go-ahead run after a leadoff double and RBI single to make it 2-1.
McM had one last gasp in its final at-bat in the seventh. Clarkson had a leadoff singles then, with one out, pinch hitter Randy Crevier walked. A fielder's choice by Matthew Chalk put runners on the corners and a wild pitch permitted Chalk to put himself in scoring position, as well. But Cable struck out Kevin Garza for the final out of the game.
Clarkson had half of McM's hits in game one, going 2-for-2 with one walk.
In game two, McM got a stellar effort from its bullpen in preserving the 7-2 victory. Relievers Rody Johnson (2.0 IP) - who was the winning pitcher in registering his first decision of the year - along with Chase Stone (1.0 IP) and Garrett Scudder (2.0 IP) combined on five hitless and scoreless frames. Starter Jack Poe tossed the first four innings, giving up all four of the Blazers' hits and two earned runs.
The quartet of War Hawks amassed a total of nine strikeouts in the game. Poe had three, Johnson one, Stone two and Scudder three of the "Ks".
McM would get all the runs it would need in its very first at-bats of the game. Garza hit a slow roller on the infield for a leadoff single. With one out, Tyler Jenkins drew a walk and Baker reached on an error to load the bases. Clarkson then coaxed a walk, as well, forcing home Garza, 1-0. Chalk lined a two-run single through the left side to plate Jenkins and Baker that made it 3-0.
BU chipped away at the deficit with single runs in the second and third that made it 3-2. The War Hawks strung together three-consecutive one-out singles in the fourth, with Jenkins' single to right driving in Garza. In the fifth, Clarkson led off with a double to right, went to third on Chalks ground out and came around on Robert White's RBI single that upped the score to 5-2.
The War Hawks added some insurance in the seventh after Baker drew a leadoff walk. Chalk then slugged his second home run of the year, clearing the leftfield fence and making it the 7-2 final, with McM's bullpen keeping the Blazers at bay the rest of the way.
Chalk finished game 2 by going 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI. Garza was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Crevier went 2-for-5 and Payton Stokes came off the bench to collect a pair of hits, as well.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field.
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ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University and Belhaven University split an American Southwest Conference baseball doubleheader Friday at Walt Driggers Field. The War Hawks (8-11, 4-4 ASC) lost the opener to the Blazers (11-8, 3-5 ASC) by a 2-1 score, before bouncing back to take the nightcap, 7-2.
In the first contest, McMurry's Juan Valadez and BU's Tanner Cable were locked in a classic pitchers' duel. Both men tossed complete games in the seven-inning bout, with both surrendering four hits. Cable (3-1) had nine strikeouts compared to four by Valadez (2-2), but the McM hurler walked four and hit two batters.
After the Blazers had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, McM got even in their half of the frame. A leadoff single by Chris Baker was followed by a Noah Clarkson double, with Baker stopping at third. Sophomore catcher Blaine McRay then grounded out to second, allowing Baker to trot home with the tying run.
In the fifth, BU threatened again by loading the bases. However, Valadez worked out of the jam and induced a force out to avert the threat. But in the sixth, the Blazers would scores the go-ahead run after a leadoff double and RBI single to make it 2-1.
McM had one last gasp in its final at-bat in the seventh. Clarkson had a leadoff singles then, with one out, pinch hitter Randy Crevier walked. A fielder's choice by Matthew Chalk put runners on the corners and a wild pitch permitted Chalk to put himself in scoring position, as well. But Cable struck out Kevin Garza for the final out of the game.
Clarkson had half of McM's hits in game one, going 2-for-2 with one walk.
In game two, McM got a stellar effort from its bullpen in preserving the 7-2 victory. Relievers Rody Johnson (2.0 IP) - who was the winning pitcher in registering his first decision of the year - along with Chase Stone (1.0 IP) and Garrett Scudder (2.0 IP) combined on five hitless and scoreless frames. Starter Jack Poe tossed the first four innings, giving up all four of the Blazers' hits and two earned runs.
The quartet of War Hawks amassed a total of nine strikeouts in the game. Poe had three, Johnson one, Stone two and Scudder three of the "Ks".
McM would get all the runs it would need in its very first at-bats of the game. Garza hit a slow roller on the infield for a leadoff single. With one out, Tyler Jenkins drew a walk and Baker reached on an error to load the bases. Clarkson then coaxed a walk, as well, forcing home Garza, 1-0. Chalk lined a two-run single through the left side to plate Jenkins and Baker that made it 3-0.
BU chipped away at the deficit with single runs in the second and third that made it 3-2. The War Hawks strung together three-consecutive one-out singles in the fourth, with Jenkins' single to right driving in Garza. In the fifth, Clarkson led off with a double to right, went to third on Chalks ground out and came around on Robert White's RBI single that upped the score to 5-2.
The War Hawks added some insurance in the seventh after Baker drew a leadoff walk. Chalk then slugged his second home run of the year, clearing the leftfield fence and making it the 7-2 final, with McM's bullpen keeping the Blazers at bay the rest of the way.
Chalk finished game 2 by going 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI. Garza was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Crevier went 2-for-5 and Payton Stokes came off the bench to collect a pair of hits, as well.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field.
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