MARSHALL, Texas – A late surge by no. 12 Pomona-Pitzer College became the difference in the game as no. 2 East Texas Baptist University fell in game one of the NCAA Division III Marshall, Texas Super Regional, 6-4. ETBU had a 3-1 lead through five innings before PPC scored five runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take the lead. ETBU is now 39-9 on the year.
"They are a good team and when you are on this stage you need to score runs when you have the opportunities. Unfortunately, the balls didn't bounce our way today as we put some balls in play with runners on base but they scored more runs than we did," said head coach
Jared Hood. "It was a great atmosphere out here and we just have to reset and come back out here tomorrow."
ETBU had eight hits with three home runs and two doubles but left seven runners on base.
Jacob Evangelista,
Carson Wilson, and
Brett Wagner all had two hits. Wilson led the team with two home runs for two RBI as Evangelista had a RBI on a home run.
Connor Massimini also added one RBI.
Sayers Collins went six innings for the no-decision recording four strikeouts giving up three earned runs on seven hits.
Peyton Miller took the loss in the final two innings on three hits with two earned runs and one strikeout.
With ETBU being the visiting team, they had first chance to strike and they did as Evangelista hit the second pitch of the game over the left field fence to make it 1-0. Three batters later, Wilson made it 2-0 with a home run half way up the net in left field. PPC pulled within one in the third inning with a run but Wilson recorded his second home run of the game in the fourth inning for a 3-1 lead. ETBU had two runners on in scoring position with two outs but a strikeout ended the inning.
After a scoreless fifth inning, PPC made their move in the sixth inning scoring three runs. They tied the game with no outs to begin the inning on a two-run homer at three each and then an error allowed another runner on. Two batters later, PPC scored to take the lead, 4-3.
Massimini singled in Evangelista with two outs in the seventh inning to tie the game at four but PPC score the final two runs in the bottom of the inning for the 6-4 lead. ETBU's final six outs were three strikeouts and three fly outs. ETBU had a chance to tie the game in the ninth as Evangelista doubled with two outs but a pop up followed to end the game.
The two teams will play at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in game two with the if-game to follow 45 minutes after.
