LONGVIEW, Texas – Scoring nine runs in a three-inning span put the game away for no. 5/8 East Texas Baptist University over LeTourneau University, 9-1. ETBU scored four runs in the fourth and sixth innings with a run in the fifth in the eight-run win. ETBU is now 22-6 and 12-1 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
ETBU recorded 10 hits with two home runs and double. Conner Massimini went 3-of-4 with four RBI with a grand slam home run. Dylan Burnaman and Michael Gallegos both recorded two hits. Nicolas Chavez had a home run for two RBI. Brett Wagner and Gallegos both had one RBI.
 
Jagger Neely went seven innings for the win giving up just one earned run recording four strikeouts. He retired the side in the second and seventh inning striking out the side in the seventh. Ethan Brister then pitched the eighth inning and Preston Crow the ninth with two strikeouts.
 
LETU led early in the game with a home run in the third for a 1-0 lead. That lasted less than an inning as in the top of the fourth, Chavez hit a two-run home run to left field to make it 2-1. Four batters later, Gallegos doubled to right field as Hunter Rumachik was the third run of the inning. On that same play, Gallegos advanced to third on a throwing error. He came home as Nick Massarini was batting on a wild pitch for a 4-1 lead.
 
Wagner made it 5-1 in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to left field as Jacob Evangelista scored. In the sixth inning, Massimini came up to bat with one out and the bases loaded. Three batters before, a LETU pitcher came in relief after Gallegos led off the inning getting hit by the pitch. After a sac bunt, a walk, and a single to the pitcher, it set up the situation for Massimini. The fourth batter for the new pitcher, Massimini found his pitch and went yard to left center field for a grand slam home run and a 9-1 lead.
 
That was the final big inning for ETBU in the eight-run win.
 
Saturday will bring a double-header starting at 1:00 p.m. at LETU.