McKinney, TX- For the fourth game in a row, the Marshals scored first, but couldn’t hold on to the lead. Tonight’s 3-1 loss to the last-place Alexandria Aces moves the McKinney losing streak to five games, and gives the Marshals their first loss at home this season in eight games.

Jason Houston (Arkansas-Little Rock) got the Marshals on the board in the first inning. After Spencer Barnett (Oral Roberts) drew a one out walk and moved to second on a passed ball, Houston hammered Aryo Fleming’s pitch off the left field wall for an RBI double.

From there on out, the Marshals couldn’t crack the pitching or defense of the Aces, stranding eight runners over the rest of the night.

Starting pitcher Josh Easley (Weatherford) overtook teammate Marcus Limon (Wayland Baptist) for the league lead in strikeouts after he struck out nine Aces, but a bevy of wild pitches gave Alexandria the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Easley finished the night with 39 strikeouts for the year, four more than Limon.

Alexandria added another run in the seventh inning after reliever Cole Thompson (Centenary) gave up an RBI double.

The Marshals collected six hits on the night, including two each by Jake Atwell (Virginia Tech), Heath Holliday (Connors State), and Houston.

Easley (0-3) picked up the loss, while Fleming (2-3) got the win. Alexandria closer Trevor Stennett picked up his fifth save of the season.

McKinney (10-13) remains in fifth place in the TCL, 5 games out of first, and 1.5 behind the Texas Tomcats.