BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning gave #5 East Texas Baptist University a walk-off victory in the first game of the day at the Birmingham Southern Classic. ETBU came from behind for a 6-5 win over Millikin University and is now 3-2 on the year.
 
Jacob Newland's first career hit was a home run as he tied the game up at five in the bottom of the ninth inning. After two strikeouts, Jacob Evangelista walked off the game winner with a moon shot to left center field for the win, 6-5.
 
Connor Massimin head three of ETBU's eight hits while Evangelista added two hits. Evangelista, Hunter Rumachik, Cameron French, Newland, and Michael Gallegos each had a RBI. Robert Croft pitched just 0.2 innings for the win. ETBU had nine strikeouts on the day with five pitchers as Preston Crow went four innings with five strikeouts. Matthew Irwin added three strikeouts and Hayden Robichaux had one strikeout.
 
Millikin scored four runs in the first two innings for a 4-0 lead. ETBU struck for their first run in the fifth inning on a French single through the left side. Gallegos was then hit by the pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh inning to cut the lead to two, 4-2. In the bottom of the eighth, Rumachik singled in Carson Wilson for the third run and Connor Massimini scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at four.
 
In the top of the ninth, Millikin went up 5-4 on a sacrifice fly. Newland answered in the bottom of the inning with his first career hit tying the game with a home run to left field. After two strikeouts, Evangelista ended the game with a walk-off home run to left center field, 6-5.
 
ETBU will face #12 Birmingham Southern at 2:30 p.m.