ABILENE, Texas – Southwestern traveled to face McMurry on Tuesday and lost 9-6. The Warhawks needed a record setting performance from Marcellous Biggins, who went 4-4 with four doubles, to overtake the Pirates.
Cruz Luna led off for the Pirates and reached base after being hit by a pitch. Then Heath Spencer took first base on a fielder's choice with Luna out at second on the play. Nate Shipp followed with a single to left field to advance Spencer to second base. Zach Lynch loaded the bases for the 'Bucs with a single of his own to left field. The first Southwestern run crossed the plate on a Cray Betts single to right field and kept the bases loaded. Shipp scored on a wild pitch and both Lynch and Betts moved up a base. Tyler Herriage walked to load the bases again. Afterwards, Charlie Garrett hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scored Lynch to give the Pirates the early 3-0 lead.
McMurry started off the bottom of the first with a single from Durst to right field. He advanced to second after Marsh was hit by a pitch. Durst later scored on a Thompson single up the middle to cut it to 3-1.
In the top of the second, Colby Dutton and Cruz Luna earned back to back walks to begin the inning. Spencer advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Then Shipp was hit by a pitch to load the bases. All runners advanced on a wild pitch which brought home Dutton for another Pirate run to make it a 4-1 game. Lynch followed with what looked to be a sacrifice fly attempt, but turned into a double play with Luna being thrown out at the plate.
The Warhawks added a run a piece in each of the second and third innings to trim it to a one run Southwestern lead.
The Pirates loaded the bases again in the top of the fifth on three consecutive walks with no outs. Then Betts drove in Spencer on a fielder's choice with Lynch out at second. Betts later stole second base to give the 'Bucs two runners in scoring position. Herriage followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Shipp and put Betts on third. Garrett then flew out to right field to end the inning with the Pirates up 6-3.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, McMurry got consecutive doubles from Griffith and Biggins for their fourth run of the contest.
Moench led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single and later scored on a RBI ground out by Marsh. The Warhawks tied the game on a RBI single by DeLeon that scored Durst. Then Thompson followed with a double down the left field line to bring home DeLeon and take the lead. Thompson proceeded to steal third base and later stole home on a double steal. The last run of the inning and the game came on Biggins' fourth double for the 9-6 final score.
Cray Betts led the Pirates by going 1-3 with 2 RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Seven different pitchers saw action on the day for the Bucs. Cody Lovas led the Southwestern hurlers by allowing only one hit and no runs in two innings pitched.
The Pirates are on the road again as they square off against Austin College on March 31st at 1:00pm in Sherman, Texas.