LONGVIEW, Texas – Playing on the road against rival LeTourneau (Texas) University, the fourth-ranked East Texas Baptist University softball team claimed both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at LETU Softball Field, 14-3, and 6-5. ETBU moves to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in American Southwest Conference competition.

In the opener, ETBU scored multiple runs in four separate innings and Jade Sones pitched a five-inning complete game for the win. The nightcap resulted in yet another victory, but ETBU had to rally in its final turn at-bat and then ward off a hard-charging LeTourneau lineup. For the day, the teams combined to hit five home runs with five different players clearing the outfield wall.

Game One: ETBU 14, LeTourneau 3 (Five Innings)

An eight-run first inning and nine extra-base hits helped ETBU to a run-rule win, 14-3. During that opening half-inning, ETBU sent 12 batters to the plate and had five extra-base hits to jump out to an 8-0 advantage.

The score was 10-0 after ETBU scored twice in the top half of the second, but LeTourneau would respond with two runs of its own in the bottom half to make it a 10-2 game after two innings. In the top of the third, Lindsey Vasquez led off with a two-strike double, and Linzie Lewis followed with her third extra-base hit of the day, this one a two-run homer, to swell ETBU's lead to 12-2.

ETBU starting pitcher Sones allowed a solo home run to Macey Mize in the bottom half of the third, but closed out the game by retiring seven-of-nine batters. The last two runs to cross the plate in the opener came in the top of the fifth with Lacey Lindsey hitting an RBI single, and Trina Deyo driving in another run on a base hit to left-center on a full-count pitch.

Sones (1-0) earned the victory in the pitcher's circle, tossing all five innings for the complete game. She allowed six hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk. In the batter's box, Lewis went 3-for-4 with five RBI, while Jayme Perez was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and also scored twice.

Game Two: ETBU 6, LeTourneau 5

Trailing 4-2 after six innings, ETBU scored four runs in its final at-bat in the seventh inning, all off home runs, to escape with the 6-5 win.

With one away and pinch runner JJ Mitchell on second base in the top of the seventh, Lindsey Vasquez swung at a 1-1 pitch from LeTourneau's Samantha Thomas and sent it over the wall in left field to tie the game, 4-4. After a single by Lewis and then a flyout by Perez, Lindsey homered to left-center and gave ETBU a 6-4 advantage.

Needing three outs to complete the doubleheader sweep, ETBU used a game-ending outfield assist to prevail in the one-run game. With runners on first and second and two outs, Kelsi Coleman singled to left-center to plate Rachel Gauspohl. Coleman then attempted to stretch her base hit into a double but was tagged out at second base by Lewis to end the game.

Game two starter Kelly Jo McLendon pitched four-plus innings and did not factor in the final decision. She allowed six hits, four runs (one earned) and had three strikeouts and no walks. In relief of McLendon, Perez (2-0) pitched the final three innings. She gave up two hits and one run, walked one and struck out two.

Vasquez batted 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored twice, while Alexis Nixon reached base safely in all three of her plate appearances with two singles and a hit by pitch.

ETBU plays again next weekend against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The three-game series opens on Feb. 26, 6 p.m., at Taylor Field.

#TIGERSWIN

via GIPHY