BROWNWOOD, Texas – Playing two hard fought games in which they had to hold off their opponents, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team got two more wins to complete the series sweep of Howard Payne. Game one was a 7-4 victory while game two saw an 8-4 victory. The series win gives ETBU a 26-11 record overall and a 17-4 conference record earning them sole place in second for the time being. Howard Payne falls to 18-17 overall and 10-11 in conference.

Game 1 – ETBU 7, Howard Payne 4

After a scoreless first, the Yellow Jackets jumped from the gates with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. ETBU would answer right back with a four-spot in the third inning. Jaxon Rader reached on a fielding error scoring Dylan Sumpter. Conner Combs and Zach Gartner would then have RBI doubles with the latter driving in two to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

Each trade traded a run in the fourth inning as Jaxon Rader had an RBI single while HPU got theirs on an RBI groundout to make it 5-3 after four. A bases loaded walk to Brice Winter in the fifth and another RBI double by Conner Combs gave ETBU a 7-3 lead. HPU did score in the bottom of the sixth and threatened in the seventh with the tying run at the plate. But Logan Sprinkle shut the door on any such hopes for a comeback and ETBU secure the series victory.

Conner Combs led ETBU with three hits and two RBI. His second hit of the day eclipsed the 200-hit milestone. Gartner and Rader (two hits) would also have two RBI of their own. Zach Pollard started the game, but could only go 1.3 innings allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Garrett Penny picked up his fifth win of the season going 3.1 innings allowing one run on two hits and striking out four. Sprinkle got his fifth save with two innings on three-hit, one-run ball and one strikeout. 

Game 2 – ETBU 8, Howard Payne 4

ETBU started the second game scoring two runs on a double by Conner Combs. The Yellow Jackets would not accept that reality and matched the Tigers with two of their own. It would stay that way until the fourth when ETBU dropped two runs on an RBI double by Zach Compton and an error on a stolen base, which saw Gartner score to make it 4-2. HPU did cut the lead to 4-3 on an RBI single only to see ETBU score two more on a stolen base by Casey Combs and a wild pitch scored by Kam Sumrall to make it 6-3.

HPU did score a run in the bottom of the sixth and had the bases loaded. Fortunately, ETBU's defense held them in check as they led 6-4. In the eighth inning, Gartner got an inside the park home run to push ETBU's lead to 7-4. Winter would follow with a sacrifice fly to make it 8-4.

Conner Combs, Compton, Landen Barns, and Casey Sombs each had two hits with Compton leading the way with three RBI. Derrick Findley got the win by going 5.1 innings allowing four runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Blake Corbin got the save in relief with 3.2 innings pitched allowing three hits and one strikeout.

ETBU will return home for their final series against UT-Tyler next Friday and Saturday.