MARSHALL, Texas – The East Texas Baptist University softball team returned to the win column, sweeping a doubleheader against visiting University of the Ozarks (Ark.) on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field. Both games resulted in five-inning, run-rule victories for ETBU, 13-0 and 9-1.

The wins improve ETBU to 23-6 overall and 16-3 in American Southwest Conference games. Meanwhile, Ozarks goes to 7-17 overall and 7-13 in ASC play. Over the course of the afternoon, ETBU hitters totaled seven extra-base hits, while its pitchers held Ozarks' lineup to a combined five base hits.

Game One: ETBU 13, Ozarks 0 (Five Innings)

In the opener, ETBU bolted out to a 13-0 lead through three innings, and Raquel Tello and Jade Sones teamed to allow only two singles and strike out seven batters. Already ahead by a 1-0 margin, ETBU scored five runs in the bottom of the second to push its lead to 6-0. During that half inning, the first four ETBU batters reached base safely, and Trina Deyo hit a first-pitch, two-run double.

In its next turn to bat, ETBU added seven more runs in the third inning to account for the final score, 13-0. Linzie Lewis hit an RBI single, Deyo added a 2-RBI single, and Lacey Lindsey sent a 2-0 pitch over the fence in center field for a three-run home run. In the circle for ETBU, Tello (12-2) earned her team-best 12th victory this season. She pitched four innings of two-hit ball, walking one and striking out six.

Game Two: ETBU 9, Ozarks 1 (Five Innings)

During the nightcap, ETBU fell behind, 1-0, following the top of the first, but responded with the final nine runs of the game en route to a 9-1 victory. After scoring twice in the bottom half to assume a 2-1 lead, ETBU added a half dozen runs in the second for an 8-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the second, Shelby Irlbeck led off with a double to left-center, and then Deyo was hit by a pitch. Vasquez then stepped up to the plate, and hit a 1-2 pitch to right field and dashed around the bases for a three-run, inside-the-park home run. Three batters later, Lindsey hit a three-run homer that just cleared the fence in right-center to make it an 8-1 game.

ETBU starting pitcher Kelly Jo McLendon (8-4) was the winner with a five-inning complete game. She gave up three hits, an unearned run and a walk, and struck out a pair.

ETBU and Ozarks close out the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.