MARSHALL, Texas –Two strong pitching performances from Beatriz Lara and Preslye Cox, the #8 East Texas Baptist University softball team collected two hard fought wins sweeping Louisiana College, 1-0, and 4-1. ETBU is now 13-0 and 8-0 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Game one was a pitcher's duel that led to a 1-0 win for the Tigers. Lara would go the entire way allowing three hits and walking two batters while striking out 10. She would also have the only RBI for ETBU with a hit up the middle while Mariah Delgado and Kaitlin Hunter also had a hit in the game. Taking the loss was Sarah Gartman, who went six innings striking out six batters and allowing three hits as well. LC would also have three players with a hit as Abby Sterling, Shaye Tredinich, and Taylor Hammock picked up their hits.
 
In game two, ETBU would use clutch hitting en route to a 4-1 win. Morgan Arst had two hits and two RBI while Sabrina Salts would drive in the go-ahead two-run single to put ETBU ahead. Cox would get the win with seven innings allowing one run on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks as well. Sami Walters was the only LC player with two hits while Sterling knocked in the only run for the Wildcats. Madison Dykes took the loss allowing three runs on five hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
 
Game 1 – ETBU 1, LC 0
Both pitchers started strong although Lara had to deal with a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings. ETBU would have nothing going for them in the first two innings in the hit column. Delgado would manage to get ETBU's first hit in the bottom of the third yet she would be stranded at second in end the frame.
 
In the fifth inning, LC would put two runners on with one out. Once again, Lara would keep the runners on base. It all came down to the sixth inning as Hunter led off with a single and advanced to second. Lara would then drive in Hunter for the only run of the game. Lara then secured victory with a perfect seventh inning as ETBU won 1-0.
 
Game 2 – ETBU 4, LC 1
After a scoreless first inning, LC would threaten to score in the second inning loading the bases but a groundout to Cox ended the threat. Arst would put the Tigers up 1-0 with a single in the bottom of the second inning. The Tigers did load the bases before a fly out to right ended the inning. LC would tie the score with a sacrifice fly to center in the third inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, ETBU would grab the lead back with a two-run single by Salts to go back up 3-1. Cox would go through a string of eight straight batters retired before a hit by pitch and a single brought the go ahead run to the plate. Fortunately, Cox recorded the next two outs to keep the lead. An insurance run for the Tigers was given on a hit by Arst in the bottom of the sixth. This three-run lead would be enough for Cox to hang on to as she recorded the final three outs to preserve the win.
 
ETBU will complete the series tomorrow at 2:00 PM at Taylor Field. It will also be Military Appreciation Day as well.