MARSHALL, Texas – Using timely hitting and holding on to leads late in each contest, #21 East Texas Baptist University pulled off two regional wins against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in a sweep of Thursday night's softball doubleheader, 6-5, and 8-5. With the two wins, ETBU is now 3-0 to start the season.
Game one was a back-and-forth contest ending with an ETBU on top, 6-5.
Emily Deramus led the way with four RBI on two hits while
Morgan Arst added an RBI single.
Presley Cox went 2.2 innings allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts while reliever
Savannah Buhl picked up the win with 4.1 innings pitched allowing two runs on five hits and one strikeout. UMHB's Emily Bounds and Kourtney Cummings picked up an RBI on three hits each. Kathryn Reed went 4.2 IP allowing six runs on six hits to pick up the loss.
Game two would have ETBU hang on to an 8-5 victory. On offense,
Daniella Solis hit two home runs posting three RBI and
MacKenzie Anderson recorded a home run and three RBI.
Beatriz Lara, who posted two hits at the plate, picked up her second straight complete game win with six strikeouts. Kasi Cummings led UMHB with two hits in the game while Bounds, Hannah Wolfe, Kourtney Cummings, and Avery Kelly recorded an RBI. Starting pitcher Bayleigh Grogan took the loss allowing three runs on three hits while Jacqueline Kay allowed five runs on three hits.
Game 1 – ETBU 6, UMHB 5
Each pitcher pitched a scoreless first inning in their first starts of their collegiate careers but the Tigers managed to get three runs in the bottom of the second on a RBI double by Deramus and an Arst single made it 2-0. Anderson was then hit by the pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-0 after two innings. But UMHB responded with three runs of their own in the top of the third to tie the game at three apiece.
The Crusaders would capitalize on a two ETBU errors with two out hits to go up 5-3 in the top of the fifth inning. The Tigers responded with a two-out rally as Deramus delivered a bases loaded double driving in all three runs for a 6-5 lead. In the seventh inning, UMHB put two runners on base with two outs. But a groundout to Anderson ended the Crusaders' chances to overtake ETBU and the Tigers earned the game one win.
Game 2 – ETBU 8, UMHB 5
Lara started strong with four strikeouts through two innings while allowing a hit in game two. UMHB would breakthrough in the top of the third inning as a Tiger error led to an early run for a 1-0 lead. ETBU had ten straight batters retired to start the ballgame before Anderson reached on an error in the fourth inning. Yet, she would be stranded at second by the end of the frame. UMHB would threaten to extend the lead in the top of the fifth inning as they would put runners in scoring position. But Lara got out of the jam to keep it a one-run game.
ETBU then exploded in the bottom of the fifth inning as Solis would break up the no-hitter with a game-tying homer of the foul pole on a first-pitch swing to start the inning. Following a single by Lara, who was then pinched ran for by
Kaitlin Hunter, Deramus came through with a triple to put ETBU up 2-1. After a fielder's choice brought in ETBU's third run, Anderson would break the game open with a three-run homer for a 6-1 lead. Going through the order once in the fifth, Solis came up again and smashed her second homer of the inning to make it 8-1 through five. The Crusaders, however, would rally for four runs in the top of the seventh inning and brought the tying run to the plate. Lada battled through and recorded her sixth strikeout for the final out and the Tigers maintained the 8-5 win.
ETBU will be hosting another doubleheader at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Saturday as they compete against Pacific University at Taylor Field.
