FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
ABILENE, Texas – All-American Kurt Yacko and Patrick O¹Hail helped the No.
1-ranked Chapman Panthers end McMurry¹s season and a run for a West Region
title. Yacko struck out six and didn¹t allow a hit in the final 3.2 innings
in relief and O¹Hail hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th
inning to give the Panthers a 5-3 win Thursday at Walt Driggers Field.
McMurry led 3-0 to open the game in the top of the second inning. Then,
Chapman scored a run in the second, third and sixth innings to knot the
score at three. However, no run crossed the plate until the bottom of the
12th with two outs when Jake Hurst and O¹Hail scored on O¹Hail¹s opposite
field homer to end the game.
McMurry lost to Cal State-East Bay Wednesday night in its first game of the
NCAA Division III West Region Baseball Championships. But the 2008 American
Southwest Conference champions fell to Chapman in the double elimination
tournament and ended its hopes of a first-ever World Series appearance.
McMurry starter Dakota Smith pitched well and allowed only three runs (two
earned) over eight innings. Smith allowed 10 hits, walked none and struck
out three in the no-decision. Adrian Gaona provided solid relief and allowed
the home run as his only runs in the final 3.2 innings.
However, McMurry¹s offense couldn¹t find its niche after posting three runs
in the second inning. Steven Yurchick, Thomas Beckham and Stephen Derrick
all drove in runs in the second including Derrick¹s 12th home run of the
season.
From there McMurry left seven runners on. Weston Franco and Lance Jones had
three and two hits respectively in the losing effort. Mike Vass, Ryan Hall
and Matt Pearson added RBI for Chapman along with O¹Hair¹s pair.
Ryan Clear picked up the no decision in the start for Chapman. Clear allowed
11 hits in 8.1 innings, surrendered three runs and struck out three.
All-time, McMurry is now 1-8 in its four regional appearances. McMurry
advanced to the regional tournament in 1998, 2001, and 2004 before earning
the automatic berth May 4. McMurry has lost seven-straight NCAA Regional
playoff games. McMurry¹s season ends with a 29-19 record.
Chapman improved to 37-3 on the year and will play Friday at Noon against
the winner of Cal State-East Bay and Trinity.
Trinity Defeats Cal State East Bay at NCAA West Regionals
The Tiger baseball team beat Cal State East Bay 8-3 on Friday night at the NCAA West Regionals, taking advantage of another pitching gem. Brian Oates struck out 10 in seven innings giving up three runs on just five hits. Dylan Early hit his third homer of the tournament to give the team a five-run cushion late in the game.
