MARSHALL, Texas – Wearing pink jerseys while playing for a good cause on their annual Strikeout Cancer game, the East Texas Baptist University softball team swept Saturday's doubleheader against McMurry University, 5-2, and 10-1. This ups their record to 26-7 overall and 19-4 in the American Southwest Conference.
Game one would see ETBU hang on to a 5-2 victory behind six strong innings from Jordan Anderson, who allowed two runs on four hits while striking out three. McKayla Hendrix would get the one-inning save allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one. Offensively, Daniella Solis (RBI) and Sabrina Salts (RBI) would each have two hits. For McM, Rachel Ripley and Nina Hernandez each got the only runs with solo homers while Kamwren Jackson was tabbed as the losing pitcher with 5.1 innings of five-run, nine-hit softball with one strikeout.
Then in game two, ETBU's bats came to life in a 10-1 five-inning victory. Salts (4 RBI), Solis, and Jackie Ramos each had two hits while MaKenzie Anderson pitched in two RBI. Rocki Tello pitched all five innings allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven. Ripley (RBI) and Summer Quiroga each had two hits for the War Hawks while Cheyenne West (1.2 innings, six runs, eight hits, one strikeout) got the loss.
Game 1: ETBU 5, McM 2
For three innings, neither team was able to get a runner across the plate. The War Hawks did have a chance to score in the third inning when they put two runners on base on a two-out rally. But Jordan Anderson was able to retire the next hitter for the third out. Meanwhile, ETBU had runners in scoring position in the second and third innings. Yet, they couldn't get in the run. ETBU then had another opportunity in the fourth inning before a double play ended the threat.
Finally, in the fifth inning, ETBU scratched across a run on a single by Taylor Sieber. They then tacked on another two runs on a triple and a stolen base by Ramos for a 3-0 lead. McM would hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning and left the tying and go ahead runners on base. ETBU answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a home run by Solis and a sacrifice fly from Grace Camacho. McM loaded the bases with one out in the seventh before Hendrix shut the door for the win.
Game 2: ETBU 10, McM 1
ETBU would get three runs in the bottom of the first inning on RBI singles by Mackenzie Anderson, Salts, and a double by Camacho, which made it 3-0. The Tigers then added three runs as a sacrifice fly by MacKenzie Anderson was followed by an error from the catcher to score a second run for a 5-0 lead. Then, Lewis collected an RBI double, which made it 6-0.
McM would get a run back in the top of the third with an RBI double to trail 6-1. But in the bottom of the fourth, ETBU exploded for four runs as Morgan Arst got an RBI single to lead 7-1. Then, Salts would hit her tenth home run on the season to make it 10-1 on a three-run homer. Tello then finished the win for ETBU.
ETBU will complete their series tomorrow at 1:00 PM at Taylor Field.
