ABILENE, TEXAS – The old adage of no lead being safe factored into the lid-lifter of an American Southwest Conference weekend series Friday, March 17.

McMurry University and the University of Mary-Hardin-Baylor combined for 22 runs and 25 hits on a blustery late afternoon/early evening at Walt Driggers Field. The visiting Crusaders opened up a 10-1 advantage early after sending seven across the plate in the third inning.

However, the resilient and youthful War Hawks chipped away at the deficit to the home crowd's delight. Three runs in the fourth, two in the sixth, and three in the seventh brought the Maroon and White to the edge of overcoming the disadvantage. However, head coach Josh Lee's side could get no closer than 11-9, as the Crusaders added two in the eighth, and then their bullpen stifled a pair of rallies in the eighth and ninth, leaving four home baserunners on to conclude a wild and wooly 13-9 final.

The underclassmen stepped to the forefront at the plate and on the mound for McMurry. Freshman catcher Michael Smosna (Lubbock, Texas) smashed a three-run home run, and sophomore outfielder Koy Carpenter (La Vernia, Texas) drove in two behind three hits and registered a pair of stolen bases. After a tough starting outing, the Maroon and White bullpen locked in, especially for freshmen Trey Gomez (Abilene, Texas) and Hunter Poe (Midland, Texas). The pair fired five and a third frames, not allowing an earned run and striking out six between them.

McMurry (6-10 overall, 3-4 ASC) looks to rebound in the doubleheader portion of the set Saturday, March 18. Game time is 1 p.m.