JACKSON, Miss. - Turning things around after a tough loss on Thursday night, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team rallied back for two wins to take the series against Belhaven University in American Southwest Conference play, 3-1, and 14-8. ETBU is now 24-13 overall and 17-7 in the ASC following the sweep.
ETBU would need three second inning runs to pull off a 3-1 game one victory.
Christopher Shay (RBI),
Jake Miller,
Will Kelley,
Christopher Robinson (RBI), and
Fox Locke (RBI) all recorded a hit for ETBU.
Isaiah Alvarenga pitched the entire seven-inning contest allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine batters.
The Tiger bats exploded to a nine-run lead before securing the series with a 14-8 win in the second game. Shay (two RBI),
Zachary McAdams (two RBI), and
Carson Wilson each had three hits while
Cameron Neel drove in three runs on two hits.
Austin Barry also had two hits, including a home run.
Blaine Parker was given the win striking out five batters.
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Game 1: ETBU 3, BU 1 (7 Inn.)
ETBU would scratch three runs across in the second inning as Kelley led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Locke doubled in Robinson while Shay would make it 3-0 with a single to right for the 3-0 second inning lead. BU would manage one hit against Alvarenga for four innings
The Blazers would get a second hit, but were unable to score through six innings. In the bottom of the seventh, BU scored on a double and had the tying run at the plate. However, Alvarenga would end the game with the final two outs on a strikeout and fly out.
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Game 2: ETBU 14, BU 8
The Tigers would start the second game loading the bases with no outs before Neel picked up a RBI at the expense of a double play. McAdams followed with a RBI single to score Miller. Shay's RBI single in the second inning gave ETBU a 3-0 lead before BU countered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
After Kelley's third inning RBI groundout put the Tigers up, 4-2, ETBU broke the game open with seven runs in the fourth inning. Shay's RBI single was followed by Miller reaching base on an error to score two runs. Neel's double to left drove in two runs while McAdams had a RBI single.
Austin Barry then drew a bases loaded walk, which moved the score to 11-2.
BU answered with three runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth inning to trail 11-7. ETBU answered adding a run in the sixth and seventh inning as Kelley (6th) had a RBI single and Neel (7th) recorded a sac fly to left while Barry homered in the eighth inning to bring the score to 14-7. BU would get one home run in the ninth inning as ETBU finished the series, 14-8..
ETBU will have their last series against LeTourneau looking for a chance to host part of the American Southwest Conference tournament. Next Friday night's opener will start at 7:00 PM in Longview, Texas.
