ABILENE, TEXAS – A never-say-die effort from McMurry University War Hawks nine almost saw head coach Josh Lee's team rally from a nine-run deficit over the final three at-bats Saturday, Feb. 11.

Visiting Schreiner University's offense took advantage of some rough home team fielding early to build the lead steadily. However, finding themselves down 13-4 at the seventh-inning stretch on their home Walt Driggers Field, the Maroon, Black, and White got the rally caps out, pushing across two in the seventh, one in the eighth, and five in the ninth as the home fan base that took in the three-and-half-hour home opener was a fever pitch. With the potential tying run at second and nobody out, the Mountaineers' bullpen doused the ever-growing fire of the War Hawks offense to escape with a 13-12 decision.

An underclassman duo consisting of sophomore center fielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) and freshman Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas) paced a 12-run, 12-hit attack, as Carpenter went two for four with a run scored and three RBI, while Smosna homered during one of his five plate attempts as part of three hits, three runs scored and two RBI. Lee and his coaching staff had a green thumb plus with pinch hitters throughout as their decisions yielded three hits, four runs scored, and four RBI down the stretch, including a two-run double by sophomore Casey Turner (Kingswood, Texas) and two RBI from freshman Jeremiah Enriquez (Galveston, Texas).

McMurry returns to its home confines for the second and third games of the series against Schreiner Sunday, Feb. 12. First pitch is 1 p.m.