MARSHALL, Texas- Behind six straight innings of shutout pitching to end the game, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team utilized their momentum early on and finished with strong pitching to overcome Hardin-Simmons University 4-2 on Sunday night. With the first American Southwest Conference victory of the season, ETBU improves to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Tigers will complete the three-game series against HSU on Monday with a double-header on Woods Field starting at 1:00 p.m.

Blake Corbin collected the win for ETBU, pitching in six innings and surrendering only two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Chad Boudreaux went the final three innings for his first save of the year. Jeremy Bateman, Casey Combs, Seth Mikeska and Zach Gartner all scored runs in the win. Mikeska was the RBI leader for the Tigers recording two. Both Combs and Bateman each added a RBI.

Gartner got things started for ETBU, singling out to left field to get on base at the bottom of the first inning. This set the stage for Mikeska, who nailed a homerun hit that sailed over the left field wall for a two-run shot bringing in Gartner and the 2-0 lead. HSU would have the response at the top of the third inning tying the game at two.

Bateman was featured in the bottom of the third as he was hit by a pitch and then stole second base moving in position to score. A triple by Casey Combs would send Bateman home to increase the lead to 3-2. Gartner hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field, scoring Combs to push the Tigers lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third.

HSU would muster several defensive plays the rest of the game to stop any ETBU threat but were unable to mount a comeback as the Tigers took game one winning 4-2 to open ASC play.

ETBU will host HSU in a double-header on Woods Field on Monday, Feb. 26, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.