MARSHALL, Texas – A chapter of history came to a close at Taylor Field on Friday afternoon in American Southwest Conference softball and NCAA Division III as two storied programs faced off for the last time splitting the double header in classic fashion. The #2 East Texas Baptist University softball team won game one on a walk-off, 5-4, in 10 innings while the University of Texas Tyler held off a late rally for the win in game two, 8-6. This is the final time these two teams will meet as UTT transitions to NCAA Division II. ETBU and UTT have combined to win seven out of the last eight ASC Tournament Championships.
 
Game one would be an epic ten-inning, almost three-hour contest as the Tigers pulled off a 5-4 thrilling win to even the series. Corley Carpenter led the way with five hits, including the walk-off hit that won the game while Mariah Delgado added three hits. Savannah Buhl earned the win with 3.2 scoreless innings in relief for the Tigers.

It came down to the final batter in game two as UTT held off a late ETBU rally to win, 8-6. ETBU had the bases loaded with two outs but didn't get the winning runs as the final out came on a strike out. Daniella Solis had three hits and two RBI while Beatriz Lara, Carpenter, Kaitlin Hunter, and Madison Prince all had one RBI. Solis, Hunter, and Prince all had home runs in the game.

Game 1: ETBU 5, UTT 4
After a scoreless first, UTT struck first in the top of the second with an RBI single to left. But after Emily Deramus led off with a double in the bottom half and then would score on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Garcia to tie the game. The Patriots retook the lead on a leadoff homer in the fourth only for ETBU to move ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the same inning with Jeanette Galvan and Delgado having a triple and single respectively. ETBU added a run in the fifth on a Daniella Solis double to put themselves up 4-2.
 
But much like the night before, UTT would rally for two runs in the seventh as they would homer to tie the game at four. ETBU had the winning run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh only to come up empty-handed. UTT would have chances to score the go-ahead run in the eighth and ninth innings before ETBU came through to stop the threats. While ETBU's scoring chance ended prematurely in the bottom of the ninth, they finally broke through in the tenth as Carpenter came through with a two-out RBI double to right to end the ballgame, 5-4, as Delgado scored.

Savannah Buhl received the win going 3.2 innings in relief of Preslye Cox. Cox started the game going 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts while Buhl had three strikeouts and didn't give up any runs. Carpenter was 5-of-6 with one RBI while Delgado posted three hits and one RBI. Solis and Hannah Garcia also added a RBI while Jeannette Galvan had three hits and one RBI.
 
Game 2: UTT 8, ETBU 6
Coming down to the last inning, again, with the winning runs on base, ETBU came up short as UTT held off the late rally. After being down, 8-2, ETBU scored two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to pull within two before the rally ended. Solis was 3-of-4 with two RBI as was Carpenter, too, with one RBI. Lara, Hunter and Prince all added one RBI, too.

UTT took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning but a Carpenter double in the bottom of the inning tied it up as Anderson scored. UTT made it 3-1 in the third inning but a solo home run by Solis cut the lead back to one, 3-2, in the bottom of the third. Five runs were scored for UTT in the fifth inning as they took an 8-2 lead. Both Prince and Hunter had solo home runs in the sixth to pull within four runs, 8-4. Solis then made it 8-5 with a double in the seventh and Lara grounded out for a RBI as ETBU came within two runs, 8-6. The rally ended with a 3-2 count as UTT finished the game on a strike out.

Buhl took the loss for ETBU going 4.1 innings giving up seven runs on eight hits. Deramus also pitched 2.2 innings with two strikeouts.

ETBU will travel to McMurry University next weekend to finish the regular season ASC schedule before hosting the tournament in two weeks.