MARSHALL, Texas – Finishing off the sweep of the University of Texas Dallas (12-11; 9-6) with two home runs and another win by Kelly Jo McLendon, the East Texas Baptist University softball team took the final game of the series, 6-3. McLendon went the distance for the sixth straight win of the year and three straight vs. Texas Dallas.

Starting in the circle for the third time in two days, McLendon (6-3) earned her sixth-consecutive victory with a complete-game effort. She pitched seven innings and allowed five hits and three runs while striking out a season-high six batters.

Five different players each had a hit for ETBU as both Alexis Padilla and Shelby Irback recorded home runs and Linzie Lewis added a double. It was Irlback's first collegiate home run and Padilla's first of the year.

ETBU seized a 5-0 lead only eight batters into the game with one run in the first and then four more in the second.

Leading off in the bottom half of the first, Lindsey Vasquez was at the plate with the count 0-2 but reached base on an infield hit. Shortly after Vasquez stole second and then advanced to third on a Linzie Lewis groundout. That brought up Jessica Bowden to the plate, who proceeded to fly out to center field on a full-count pitch. Vasquez tagged up from third base and crossed home plate safely, giving Bowden a sacrifice fly and ETBU a 1-0 lead.

Just an inning later, Katy Hill was hit by a full-count pitch from Texas Dallas' Lauren McLeod and then Padilla walked on five pitches. Irlbeck stepped in the batter's box and hit a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left-center for a three-run home run and a 4-0 ETBU lead. Lewis later added a run-scoring double to plate Vasquez and increase ETBU's lead to five runs, 5-0, through two innings.

Texas Dallas came to bat in the top half of the third and drew within two runs of ETBU, 5-3. Back-to-back singles by Melissa Livermore and Taylor Ervin gave Texas Dallas runners on first and second with none out. Following a sacrifice bunt, Brittany Perkins sent a 1-1 pitch up and over the wall in the center field cutting the lead to two, 5-3..

McLendon did manage to respond, however, following that home run, retiring 12 of the next Texas Dallas 13 batters, including eight-straight at one point. The final run of the day and of the series came in the bottom half of the sixth when Padilla hit a first-pitch, line-drive home run to right field to lead off that half inning and account for the final score, 6-3.

With a Texas Dallas runner on second and two gone in the top of the seventh, McLendon induced a groundout to third base off the bat of Ervin to seal the ETBU victory.

McLeod (8-4) took the loss for Texas Dallas as she gave up five hits and six runs (five earned) while hitting two batters, walking two and struck out a pair.

Up next on ETBU's schedule is a trip to Austin, Texas, for a three-game series against ASC opponent, Concordia University-Texas. The teams open with a doubleheader on March 24 at 3 p.m.