MARSHALL, Texas – Putting together strong rallies in both contests, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team split the doubleheader with the University of Texas Dallas at Woods Field. ETBU won game one, 11-3, and then fell short in game two, 8-6, and is now 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
ETBU would strike first with a game one win, 11-3, in seven innings. Seth Mikeska (two RBI, HR) and Landen Barns (RBI) would each have two hits while Zach Gartner (HR) notched three RBI. Casey Combs and Brady Faulkner also homered for the Tigers in this contest. Derrick Findley was the winning pitcher going six innings allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Blake Bihm took the loss for UTD allowing all 11 runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
 
The Comets would hang on for an 8-6 win in game two to split the series. ETBU's Gartner had three hits and an RBI on the night while Barns, Combs, and Faulkner (RBI) had an RBI each. Starting pitcher John Marrs went 3.2 innings allowing four hits with a strikeout. But James Rupert would take the loss with one inning allowing four runs on five hits. UTD had strong performances from Ryan Burciaga (HR, four hits, four RBI, 3B) and Austin Blanford (three hits, two RBI, HR) on the offense. Starting pitcher Blake Divalerio (6.0 IP, six runs, nine hits, three strikeouts) got the win while Logan McPherson (3.0 IP, two strikeouts) got the save.
 
Gm 1 – ETBU 11, HPU 3 (7 Innings)
Gartner would put ETBU on the board with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to lead 2-0. Findley worked his way out of the jam in the second while Faulkner would knock down his first career homer in the bottom of the second. In the third inning, Gartner reached on an error scoring Sumpter while Mikeska followed with a two-run shot to left for a 6-0 cushion.
 
The score stayed the same as Findley held the Comets scoreless through five innings. UTD broke through in the top of the sixth as a triple and error led to two runs crossing the plate as ETBU held onto a 6-2 lead. The Tigers would get those runs back and three more as a two-run double by Jake Miller was followed by a two-run homer from Combs and a double by Barns. UTD managed a run in the seventh as ETBU took the eight-run win.
 
Gm 2 – UTD 8, ETBU 6
Marrs would pitch two scoreless frames to start the game, which included key double plays in both innings. Once again, Gartner put the Tigers up first in the bottom of the first as he would single and advance on an error scoring Combs. ETBU then added to their lead with RBI singles by Faulkner and McAdams to bring the score to 3-0. The Comets then swung the momentum their way with six unanswered runs with two in the fourth and four in the fifth.
 
ETBU would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Miller grounded into an RBI out. One inning later, Gartner homered to left center as the score was 6-5 after six. Both teams scored a run in the seventh with UTD scoring on a wild pitch while ETBU had Sumpter drive in McAdams, who scored on an error. UTD then brought home the eight run in the top of the eighth to go up 8-6. Down to their final out in the ninth, the Tigers loaded the bases. Unfortunately, a pop out to the second baseman sealed the win and split for the Comets.
 
Game three will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday pending weather. It will also be James Morgan Day.