MARSHALL, Texas – With American Southwest Conference Tournament hosting implications on the line, the top two-teams in the ASC had a pivotal showdown in Marshall. ETBU made a comeback, but came up short in extra-inning 7-5. ETBU falls to 26-12 overall and 17-5 in ASC play. #4 UTT improves to 32-5 overall, and clinch the regular season title with a 20-2 ASC record.

UTT jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks in part to a Daniel Williams two-run homerun that just sneaked over the left field fence. Blake Wilson extended the Patriot lead to 3-0 when he scored on a wild pitch. Graham Welch hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning to give UTT a 4-0 lead. Mason Aldredge got ETBU on the board with a bases loaded walk to bring home the first run, cutting the lead to 4-1.

UTT would respond with a Wilson single to left center, jumping the Patriots back out to a 5-1 lead. ETBU would not back down as Zach Gartner and Casey Combs would hit back-to-back RBI singles to cut into the Patriot lead to 5-3. Brice Winter cut the lead to one with an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning. Conner Combs would ultimately tie the game in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly to score Jaxon Rader. In extra-innings, UTT scored two runs on an Alex Bishop triple to cap off the scoring, giving UTT a 7-5 win.

Winter led ETBU with two hits and five other Tigers picked up one hit each. Aldredge, Conner Combs, Casey Combs, Gartner, and Winter each had one RBI. Garter led the way with two runs on the base paths. Garrett Penny picks up his first loss of the season, dropping to 5-1. The ETBU pitching staff struck out five batters and did not walk a UTT batter.

Bishop led the Patriot offense with three hits, followed by Wilson, Williams, and Welch with two hits each. Bishop and Williams picked up two RBI each. After a blown save, Reese Read stayed in long enough to pick up his third win (3-1) of the season.

ETBU and UTT will conclude the series and regular season with a double header at 1:00 p.m. Senior Day recognition will take place after the second game of the double header.