GEORGETOWN, Texas — A disastrous second inning with defensive miscommunications and miscues cost the Southwestern baseball team in a 16-9 loss to the McMurry War Hawks.
After the first inning, Southwestern carried a 3-2 lead, getting an RBI single from Preston Witt, sacrifice fly from Jacob Tanner, and RBI double from Christian Melillo. However, the Pirates opened the top of the second inning with an ominous start, with starter Silas Jones walking the first two McMurry hitters.
Then, Koy Carpenter laid down a perfectly placed bunt down the left side, finding the gap between Jones and the charging Landon Durdin to load the bases.
Blake Beach followed with an RBI single to the Bermuda Triangle in shallow right field, finding the sweet spot where the second baseman and right fielder's area overlap and dropping safely to the ground.
Trey Schwarz replaced Jones and surrendered a two-RBI single by Nick Hamel through the left side, walked Josh Dyer to load the bases, and yielded an RBI to Xavier Escobar on a groundout to third. Then, Dylan Lee rocketed a shot off Shwarz's leg. Southwestern's relief pitcher was able to make a play on the ball but committed a throwing error to first, scoring two more runs and extending the inning.
Logan Mercer drove in another run with an RBI triple, then Schwarz walked Braden Fryer. After Tommy Cardenas struck out swinging, Karpenter hit a towering fly ball nearly straight up into the air. The entire Southwestern infield appeared to settle under it without a player making a good play on the ball, which dropped to the ground, giving Carpenter second base and scoring Mercer. Beach followed a two-RBI single, giving McMurry a 12-3 lead.
The inning overshadowed a dominant pitching performance from freshman Ty Elder. He replaced Bryan Meissner with two outs in the top of the third inning and struck out 11 in only 5.1 innings of work in the second appearance of his collegiate career. Elder was nearly flawless, surrendering one run on a booming shot over the left-field wall by Fryer on a pitch that sailed a little too high.
Southwestern continued to fight, moving runners into scoring position with bunts and stolen bases to string nine runs together on 11 hits with four walks. Unfortunately, the Pirates also left nine runners stranded.
The Pirates got solid offensive performances from Maxwell Mims, Preston Witt, and Alexander Cannata, who each hit 2-for-4. Mims scored two runs, Witt had an RBI and run scored, and Cannata added two RBIs and a run scored.
Southwestern drops to 10-14, including 8-7 in non-conference games. The Pirates will host Schreiner this weekend for a three-game series that starts Friday at 7:00 p.m. and ends with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.