AUSTIN, Texas - Competing hard on two games and surviving an elimination game, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team secured their spot in the championship of the red bracket tomorrow with a split. ETBU has now won 30 games on the season and will look to tie the program record with one win tomorrow.

Game one would have ETBU take a 5-2 loss against Concordia University (TX). Brady Faulkner had two hits for the Tigers while both Casey Combs and Zach Gartner drove in the only runs for the Tigers. Alan Underwood would take the loss in seven innings allowing five runs on five hits while striking out two.

The Tigers survived elimination against Hardin-Simmons University in game two 6-2 behind eight innings of two-run ball by Adrian Stover, who also struck out four batters. Combs (RBI), Seth Mikeska (RBI), and Faulkner (RBI) picked up two hits of their own.

Game 1 - CTX 5, ETBU 2

While the game was scoreless for the first three innings, ETBU would have a golden chance to score in the third inning. On a double steal attempt, the Tornadoes caught ETBU's runner heading for the plate for the final out of the inning. CTX would capitalize in the fourth inning with three runs for a 3-0 lead. Underwood kept the Tigers in the game by holding the Cowboys scoreless for the next three innings.

ETBU was kept off the scoreboard until the end of the seventh inning. But the eighth inning saw opportunity as with two on and no out, Combs would come through with an RBI single to make it 3-1. It would then be 3-2 when Gartner reached on a fielder's choice. With the tying run at second, ETBU's game-tying hit was snagged by CTX for the final out of the inning. The Tornadoes would add two insurance runs for a 5-2 lead, which they would never let go of in the win.

Game 2 - ETBU 6, HSU 2

Things got off to a strong start for ETBU, who strung together four runs in the first. After Dylan Sumpter and Combs reached base, they did a double steal which led to the first run of the game. Gartner followed with a single to right scoring Combs. When the third run scored for ETBU, Faulkner would make it 4-0 on a long sacrifice fly to center. Stover would follow with nine consecutive batters retired into the top of the fourth.

ETBU tacked on two more in the bottom of the fourth as MacAdams would bring home Faulkner on a fielder's choice while Combs single in the sixth run. Ahead by six, Stover kept his momentum going until the seventh when the Cowboys broke the shutout with a single. After completing an eighth inning perfectly, Stover was pulled in the ninth for Erik Gipson, who secured the win for ETBU despite HSU scoring one.

ETBU advances to the championship game tomorrow at 12:00 PM. If the Tigers win then, game two will follow afterwards.