MARSHALL, Texas – It took five innings to warm the bats up for East Texas Baptist University in their home opener as they shut out Central Baptist College, 7-0. ETBU erupted for seven runs in the final two innings to move to 4-1 on the year.
 
Tauryn Cummings went 3-of-3 with one RBI to lead the team as Mary Frances Ellis added two hits, one RBI, and a run scored. Tristen Maddox hit the first home run of the year for three RBI. Also earning a RBI were Courtney White and Delanie Loya. ETBU recorded 11 hits in the game, too.
 
In the circle, Ava Rodriguez went seven innings for the win with three strikeouts holding CBC to two hits. She retired the side in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings. The outfielders of Ellis, Emma Bell, and Jalen Perez all had spectacular play in the outfield helping with the shutout.
 
After four innings of no scoring, ETBU opened up with four runs in the fifth inning. Ellis singled in the first run with one out to make it 1-0. Two batters later, White doubled in Frances for a 2-0 score. Loya followed with a double bringing in White as the third run of the inning. A third straight double in the inning came from Cummings as Hannah A. Kelly scored for the 4-0 lead.
 
With two outs and two on in the sixth inning, Maddox hit a shot over the centerfield wall for a three-run homer making it 7-0. Rodriguez then retired the first two batters of the seventh before CBC received their second hit of the game. Bell made the last out to right field ending the game as ETBU won their season opener at home.
 
ETBU will now travel to Georgia this weekend for the NFCA Spring Classic and will take on six teams as five are nationally ranked.