LONGVIEW, Texas – Strong pitching led to another American Southwest Conference series sweep as no. 5/8 East Texas Baptist University took the double header over LeTourneau University. ETBU won, 2-1, and 11-2 to take all three games in the series. They are now 24-6 overall and 14-1 in the ASC.
Connor Massimini had four hits on the day to lead ETBU.
Nick Massarini,
Jacob Evangelista, and
Brett Wagner all added three hits. Wagner and
Dylan Burnaman recorded three RBI as Massimini,
Austin Barry, Evangelista, and
Nicolas Chavez added one RBI each.
Sayers Collings pitched a complete game in game one to move to 7-1 on the year and
Peyton Miller earned the win in relief in game two.
Game 1
ETBU 2, LETU 1
Collins went all seven innings giving up just four hits and one earned run on a home run as ETBU pulled out a 2-1 win. The Tigers had six hits on the day as Massimini went 2-of-4. Burnaman had the only RBI in the game for ETBU.
In the game, Collins recorded six strikeouts and retired the side in the second and fifth innings.
ETBU's first run came in when Chavez stole home on a double steal as Barry went to second base in the second inning. In the fifth inning, Burnaman singled through the left side as Massarini scored to make it 2-0. LETU had a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning and then threatened in the seventh.
With two outs and two runners on at first and second base, LETU had a pinch hitter come up. Collins followed by striking the batter out to end the game and the threat.
Game 2
ETBU 11, LETU 2
Scoring in five of the nine innings, ETBU finished off the series adding 11 runs on the board. With 15 hits, six players had two or more hits in the game. Wagner went 3-of-6 with three RBI to lead the team. Evangelista, Massimini, Barry, Michael Gallegos, and Massarini all had two hits. Burnaman added two RBI as Evangelista, Massimini, Chavez, and Barry all had one RBI.
Landry Powell started the game going three innings with five strikeouts giving up one run and four hits. Miller earned the win with 2.2 innings of work with one strikeout, one run and two hits.
Jacob Sherman then went 2.1 innings with three strikeouts as
Robert Croft pitched the final inning not allowing a hit.
ETBU scored three runs in the first inning as Wagner had a two RBI single. Barry then made it 3-0 with a single to left field as Chavez scored. In the second, Evangelista hit a home run for a 4-0 lead. LETU picked up one run in the bottom of the second.
In the fifth inning, Massimini came in on a wild pitch making it 5-1. A second run for LETU came in the bottom of the fifth but ETBU added another run in the sixth on a sac fly by Chavez for a 6-2 score. ETBU added five runs in the seventh starting with a two RBI single from Burnaman. Massimini then singled to left field for a RBI as it became 9-2. Wagner finished off the scoring with a two RBI single for the 11-2 lead.
ETBU will travel to Arkansas on Tuesday for a mid-week game vs. Hendrix College at 3:00 p.m.
