In the latest American Southwest Conference standings, the Sul Ross State baseball team is trying to hold on to fifth place in order to get a chance to make the conference tournament.

Every series is big.

On Thursday night, the Lobos had a solid performance backed by some good pitching to notch an 11-7 win over the McMurry War Hawks at Kokernot Field.

>> HOW IT HAPPENED:

McMurry struck first with a solo home run in the top of the first.

The Lobos answered back by scoring four runs on five hits in the bottom half of the first. The rally started with a leadoff double by Jared Roiz.

Primo Vasquez then hit a two-run home run to right center to give Sul Ross the 2-1 lead.

Tye Lindsey delivered a two-out double down the left field line. Alvaro Hernandez then hit a clutch two-run home run to right center.

Hernandez started off the fourth with a double. After a fly out to left by Peyten Kennard, Hernandez advanced to third and later scored on an RBI single by Estevan Ortiz.

Ortiz later scored on a passed ball to make the score 5-1.

After being held scoreless for three straight innings, the War Hawks pushed across four runs in the fifth. McMurry used a solo home run and a three-run homer in the inning to trail by one.

Sul Ross got a run back in the sixth as Hernandez scored on a passed ball.

Aaron Morales made the score 8-5 after he crossed home plate on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh.

The Lobos scored two runs in the eighth when Morales drove in Ortiz on a fielder's choice to second.

Carsen Thor then singled to right when the right fielder bobbled the ball allowing two runs to score.

Sul Ross finished with 12 hits.

Hernandez was a triple shy of the cycle as he went 3 for 5 with a single, double, home run and two RBI.

Roiz finished 3 for 4 with two singles, a double, a stolen base and a walk.

Morales had a single and a double to go 2 for 4 with an RBI while Ortiz scored twice to go 1 for 2 with a single, two walks and an RBI.

Lindsey finished 1 for 3 with the double. Vasquez was walked twice to end up going 1 for 3 with two RBI.

Chris Ibanez improved to 2-3 after he went 4.1 innings allowing five hits while he tallied five strikeouts. Ibanez was unphased after taking a hard line drive off the glove in the fourth.

Cade Watson allowed one hit and struck out two batters in 2.2 innings of work. Connor Archer gave up three hits in one inning.

Ian Craigie did not allow a single hit in the ninth while he struck out one batter.

>> POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:

"Balls were leaving the yard left and right. You stick with the approach and on nights like tonight you have the opportunity to leave the yard. We did that. Our pitchers did a heck of a job of not allowing freebies. We did a great job battling at the plate. It was a fun day to hit at the 'Not." — Ely Gallego on his team's win

"He wants the ball. He wants to compete. It didn't hit him square, thankfully. It grazed him. It was a scary moment. It just goes to show his resiliency and toughness to want to stay in that game." — Gallego on Ibanez' performance

"I was just glad that I was able to produce for the team. It was about time that I kind of popped off and stepped up through my secondary role. It feels pretty good. We're trying to get the sweep. It's a big weekend for us. We just got to keep on grinding." — Hernandez on his solid day at the plate

"When I got hit, first thing, am I going to be able to pitch? I obviously want to stay in the game to give my team the best chance to win. We know we can beat them. We got a good group of guys behind the starters. Cade — he's a dog. If you get in a little trouble you know he's going to come back and shut it down." — Ibanez on his performance

>> BY THE NUMBERS:

• The Lobos have the second-best team batting average in the ASC (.317).
• Lindsey sports the second-best batting average in the ASC (.425).
• Lindsey has a team-high 31 hits and nine doubles.
• Vasquez is riding a six-game hitting streak since March 27. He has nine RBI during that span.
• Lindsey has reached base safely in 14-straight appearances.
• Watson leads the pitching staff with 22 strikeouts while Ibanez ranks second with 20.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross (12-13, 8-8); McMurry (11-16, 6-10)

>> UP NEXT: The Lobos close out the three-game series against McMurry with a doubleheader Friday, April 7. First pitch is at 1 p.m.