MARSHALL, Texas – Facing the #1 team in the nation, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team came up empty as they fell to Chapman University in both games, 8-3, and 11-1. ETBU is 0-5 overall.
Game one went in the Panthers favor winning, 8-3.
Samuel Rowland and Nick Deatherage each collected two hits while
Will Kelley drove in the only RBI for the Tigers.
Peyton Miller took the loss as he allowed four runs on four hits in 4.0 innings.
Rece Gustafson and
Blake Corbin would also make appearances in the game. Henry Zeisler proved to be the difference for CU driving in all eight RBI on two grand slams. Nick Garcia would earn the win with 6.0 innings allowing three runs on three hits while striking out 12 batters.
The Panthers would carry their momentum into Game two as they won, 11-1. Held to four hits all game long, ETBU was led by two hits from
Ford Spigener while
Cameron Neel recorded the only RBI.
Derrick Findley received the loss in with 4.1 innings allowing six runs on six hits.
Austin Schaper,
Daniel Rubio,
Creed Spenrath,
John Marrs, and
Isaiah Alvarenga also appeared in the game. Cooper Foard and Zeisler would each have three hits and a homer to lead the Panthers. Riley Glenn got the win with 6.2 innings allowing one run on three hits.
Game 1: CU 8, ETBU 3
ETBU would have some great defensive plays in the first and second innings with critical double plays as Miller started off with three scoreless frames. CU's Garcia would answer, too, as he retired all nine batters in order to start the game. But the fourth inning would begin the scoring as CU loaded the bases before a grand slam to put them up 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, ETBU would respond with three runs. A double-steal plus an RBI single by Kelley made it 4-2 before a wild pitch put ETBU within one, 4-3. However, it would be the same story for the Panthers in the fifth as another grand slam was hit, extending the score to 8-3. ETBU would have scoring chances in both the fifth and seventh innings only to come up empty. CU would keep the score the same through the final few innings to record the Game one win.
Game 2: CU 11, ETBU 1
Both teams managed just one hit through the first three innings. A single by Faulkner in the fourth inning was all they could afford as he was left stranded.
CU would eventually breakthrough with six runs in the fifth inning. ETBU would attempt to answer in the bottom of the sixth as they loaded the bases. But a groundout to second ended their threat. ETBU did get a run in the seventh when Neel recorded an RBI groundout. The Panthers would push their lead up to 11-1 with two runs in the eighth and three runs in the ninth inning finishing with the 10-run win.
ETBU will finish the series with Chapman on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in a single nine-inning game.
