Box Score ALPINE, Texas – Opening up in the American Southwest Conference opener against Sul Ross State University on their longest road trip of the year, East Texas Baptist University scored 10 runs to win their 20th game of the year, 10-2, over the Lobos. ETBU added to their nation leading home run total with two more putting them at 49 on the year. It is also the first time for back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2005-06 season.
Ernest Perez went seven innings for the win improving to 8-2 on the year recording six strikeouts. He gave up just two earned runs on six hits. Chad Boudreaux came in for the final two innings and allowed just one hit with two strikeouts. Zach Compton went 4-of-4 with three runs scored and three RBI to lead the team. He posted a double and a home run as two of his four hits. Kam Sumrall added another home run to his list for two RBI on the night. Conner Combs then finished with two RBI while Dynas Doud and Casey Combs each had a RBI.
After a scoreless first inning, ETBU scored the next six runs with two in the second, one in the third and three in the fifth for a 6-0 lead. Sumrall took a 1-0 count deep to right centerfield for the first two runs of the game as Compton scored. In the third inning, Tyler Bates was the third run of the game crossing the plate on a wild pitch.
Doud made it 4-0 with a single to left field that scored Jaxon Rader and then Conner Combs singled through the left side as both Compton and Doud came in making it 6-0. SRSU cut ETBU's lead to four, 6-2, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but saw the slim chance to catch the Tigers fall in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Compton had an 0-2 count and took the pitch over the right field fence for a three-run home run making it 9-2. Casey Combs finished out the game with a RBI ground out as his bother Conner Combs came in.
With the 20th win, ETBU makes it the second straight 20-win season since the early 2000s. ETBU won 20 or more games from 1999 to 2006 and then didn't have a 20-win season until 2015.
ETBU will play a double header vs. SRSU on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
