ABILENE, Texas – Sweeping the first day of the series against Hardin-Simmons University, the No. 14-ranked East Texas Baptist University softball team topped host Cowgirls, 9-3, and 5-1. ETBU enters the 30-win barrier with the wins and is 31-7 on the year and 24-4 in the ASC.

Rocki Tello earned the game one win while Kelly Jo McLendon won game two. Shelby Irlbeck had four hits for ETBU in two games.

Game 1: ETBU 9, Hardin-Simmons 3

During the opener, ETBU scored the game's first half dozen runs to claim a 6-0 advantage heading into the bottom half of the fourth inning. Later on with a 6-3 lead and batting in the top of the seventh, ETBU added a three-spot to account for the final score, 9-3.

Hitting in the eighth spot for ETBU, Shelby Irlbeck went 3-for-4 with a double, while Jayme Perez drove in three runs. Linzie Lewis did not record an official at-bat, but finished with four walks in addition to scoring twice and stealing two bases. Lindsey Vasquez added two more stolen bases to increase her team-high total to 36 this spring.

In the circle, Tello (17-2) made the start and earned the victory. She pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, three runs (all earned).

Game 2: ETBU 5, Hardin-Simmons 1

In the nightcap, a four-run inning in the top half of the third keyed ETBU's eventual 5-1 win. With the action tied at 1-1 and ETBU batting in the third inning, Katy Hill scored an unearned run to push ETBU ahead, 2-1. Later on in the half inning, Perez hit a two-RBI double to plate Vasquez and Lewis with ETBU gaining some additional space, 4-1. Several batters later, Kaitlyn Hollingshead would add a run-scoring single that brought Perez home and would turn out to be the day's final run.

McLendon (11-5) pitched a four-hit complete game for the win. She threw seven innings and gave up one earned run while striking out three and walking none.

ETBU and Hardin-Simmons close out the three-game series on Saturday at 11 a.m.