MARSHALL, Texas – Returning back to American Southwest Conference play, the East Texas Baptist University softball team swept the doubleheader against the University of Ozarks thanks to a dominant pitching performance and a wild come-from-behind victory. ETBU took game one, 6-0, and then fought back in game two for a 12-8 win. ETBU is still undefeated in conference play at 8-0 record to go along with a 14-3 overall record.
 
In game one, ETBU shutout the Eagles, 6-0, through the strong pitching of Rocki Tello. Mikaelyn Settles led ETBU with three hits while Linzie Lewis had two hits and one run batted in. Morgan Arst did score three of the six runs to go along with two hits. Tello was the story with seven shutout innings allowing one hit while striking out a career-high nine batters.
 
Game two saw ETBU overcome a 6-0 deficit to win 12-8. Arst finished with five hits while Sabrina Salts and Daniella Solis collected three runs batted it. While Jordan Anderson started the game by going 2.2 innings allowing six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts, it was McKayla Hendrix who received the win in relief with 4.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two hitters. UO was led by Katie Ventress, Kieara Bryant (two runs batted in) and Taylor Teague, who each had two hits. Ventress also started the game by going three innings allowing six runs on six hits with one strikeout and four walks. But Jaela Martin took the loss by going two innings allowing four runs on eight hits.
 
Game 1 – ETBU 6, UO 0
 
ETBU struck for three runs in the first inning as a wild pitch plus RBI hits by Solis and Settles would help give ETBU a 3-0 lead. Tello struck out the side in the top of the second inning before Lewis would make it 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning. After both teams went 1-2-3 in the third inning, Tello then retired the side in the fourth inning.
 
Lewis once again would drive in a run as it was 5-0 through four innings while Prince added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-0 ETBU lead after five. Tello's perfect game attempt ended with one out in the sixth on a UO double. But the runner was left on base. Tello then finished the complete game shutout with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
 
Game 2 – ETBU 12, UO 8
 
UO would get their first run of the doubleheader in the top of the first inning on an RBI single to go up 1-0. ETBU would get two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first inning, but couldn't bring them home. UO then added a two runs in the top of the second inning as fielder's choice and an error allowed the Eagles to lead 3-0.
 
The top of the third inning would see three more runs for UO to lead 6-0. ETBU would then rally to cut the deficit to 6-4 as a fielder's choice by Salts, a single by Solis, a bases loaded walk to Prince and a single by Taylor Sieber made it that way. A wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning cut the deficit to 6-5 before Solis would make it 7-6 with a single. ETBU's fourth inning ended with one more run on a single by Prince and it was 8-6 after four.
 
UO would cut the deficit to 8-7 in the top of the fifth inning but the Tigers would then extend the game to 10-7 on an RBI double by Salts. UO cut the deficit to 10-8 in the top of the sixth inning only to allow two bottom of the sixth inning runs by ETBU on a single by Jeanette Galvan and a sacrifice fly by Lewis to increase the lead to 12-8. Hendrix then finished the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
 
ETBU will finish their series with Ozarks tomorrow at 12:00 PM. It will also be the Go Gold Childhood Cancer Day game where ETBU will wear gold uniforms.