MARSHALL, Texas – Opening up the 2015 season on a cold night in East Texas, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team's bat weren't hot enough for a comeback as they fell short, 6-4, to Chapman University (Calif.).  ETBU trailed the entire game but had their chances to take the lead.

Matty Sullivan and Connor Combs each had two hits as ETBU finished with eight overall. Ashley Dukes and Zach Compton both had a RBI as Dukes produced the first triple of the year. Dynas Doud touched home plate twice while Combs and Jaxon Rader also scored.

Jordan Wilkerson received the opening day start going six innings for the loss.  He had three strikeouts and gave up three earned runs on five hits. Jacob Wadle went two innings for one earned run on two hits and two strikeouts. Jimmy Russo worked the ninth inning and faced four batters.

After a scoreless first inning, Chapman scored the first run in the top of the second and then made it 2-0 in the third inning.  ETBU cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third on Duke's triple scoring from second base.  Chapman added two runs in the fifth inning on two outs to make it 4-1 and then pushed their lead to four, 5-1, in the sixth inning.

ETBU made their comeback push in the bottom of the sixth adding two runs. With one out Doud singled to left center field and then made it to second on a wild pitch. Combs picked up his second hit of the night as Doud went to third and then they both pulled off the double steal as Doud became the second run of the game. Two batters later, Combs touched home on a wild pitch pulling ETBU within two, 5-3.

Chapman score their sixth run in the eighth inning for a 6-3 lead but ETBU didn't go away easily. With two outs, ETBU started a rally as Compton singled to center field scoring Doud.  Now with runners on the corners and down two runs, ETBU had a chance to tie the game but ended the inning on a strikeout as the rally fell short.  They then couldn't gain back the momentum in the ninth falling, 6-4.

Kevin Klaess earned the win for Chapman going six inning as Matt Molnar picked up the save. Klaess recorded five strikeouts too.

The two teams will meet for their second game of the three-game series on Friday at 5:00 p.m. for a nine-inning game at Woods Field.