MARSHALL, Texas – A four-run second inning propelled no. 4 East Texas Baptist University into the NCAA Division III Marshall, Texas Regional Championship Tournament game with a 7-3 victory over Concordia University Texas. ETBU is now 38-8 and will play for their second straight Regional Championship on Sunday.
 
Sayers Collins went 6.2 innings for his 12^th win of the year and seven strikeouts giving up just two earned runs on four hits. Brayden Hodges worked one inning giving up three hits and one run as Robert Croft finished the final 1.1 innings for his 10^th save of the year. Croft had one strikeout allowing no hits or runs retiring four straight batters.
 
ETBU had 10 hits as three players all had two hits. Five of the 10 hits were for extra base hits as four were home runs. Dylan Burnaman, Brett Wagner, Hunter Rumachik, and Cameron French all posted a home run. Burnaman, Connor Massimini, and French all had two hits. Jacob Evangelista led with two RBI as Burnaman, Wagner, Rumachik, French, and Carson Wilson all had one RBI.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, CTX singled in a run for a quick lead. ETBU responded with four runs in the second inning as two came off home runs. Wagner hit the longest home run of the year over the left field net taking one bounce in the parking lot to hit Foote Hall. After a strikeout, French had a shot over the wall to put ETBU up, 2-1. Three batters later, Evangelista doubled in Massarini and Wilson making it 4-1.
 
After two scoreless innings, Burnaman homered as the second batter of the fifth inning for a 5-2 lead. In the sixth inning, Wilson singled through the right side as Rumachik came for the sixth run. Rumachik then homered in the eighth inning putting ETBU up by five runs, 7-2.
 
CTX added a run in the eighth inning off of Hodges with one out. Getting the second out on a fielder's choice, Croft came in with two outs and runners on first and second base. In just two pitches, the batter grounded out to end the threat. In the bottom of the ninth, Croft retired the side with a fly out, strikeout, and ground out for his nation leading 10^th save.
 
ETBU will take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 11:00 a.m. for the Regional Championship.