MARSHALL, Texas – Coming from behind in both games against Hardin-Simmons University, no. 13/21 East Texas Baptist University swept the Cowboys, moving to 3-1 in the American Southwest Conference. ETBU is now 15-8 and marks an impressive record of 11-2 at home this season, adding to their dominance over Hardin-Simmons, having won 14 of the last 16 meetings.
ETBU won game one, 18-8, in eight innings, using the ASC run rule for this year. They were down 7-2 before rallying back for the win. A strong pitching performance in game two gave ETBU a 5-2 win for the sweep.
Luke Bumpus went 4-of-8 on the day with two RBI, while
Dylan Burnaman,
Joaquin Costa, and
Ben Lea had three hits. Lea led the team with five RBI on two home runs. Burnaman and
Hunter Rumachik had four RBIs, and Bumpus and
Carson Livesay added two RBIs.
Luke Finn recorded one RBI. Burnaman and Costa also provided home runs.
Jackson Jones moved to 2-1 in game one with the win, giving up just one hit in four innings of relief with one strikeout.
Tyler Bogusz went seven innings in game two of the nine-inning game, recording seven strikeouts with two earned runs.
Game 1
ETBU 18, HSU 8
ETBU came from behind for an 18-8 victory in game one. The Tigers tallied 15 hits and capitalized on 12 walks. The game featured a decisive eight-run sixth inning, and ETBU maintained control after trailing early, allowing only one run after the third inning.
Finn stole two bases and scored three runs, while Livesay scored three runs while driving in two with a double. Bumpus led the team with three hits, including two RBIs and one stolen base. Lea had two hits, including a home run, and led with three RBIs and has hit four home runs in the last four games against HSU. Rumachik drove in four runs and had a double.
Matthew Krall pitched one inning, allowing two earned runs on two hits with one walk and no strikeouts.
Landry Powell contributed 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up five earned runs on four hits, with one strikeout.
Carson Speegle pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out one. Jones delivered a strong performance over four innings, allowing only one earned run on 1 hit and 4 walks, earning his second win of the season with a 2-1 record.
ETBU and Hardin-Simmons exchanged early blows in the first inning, with both teams scoring two runs. Hardin-Simmons opened the scoring with a pair of RBIs, while the Tigers responded with a two-run double from Rumachik, evening the score at 2-2.
In the second inning, Hardin-Simmons added two more runs off a two-run homer by McGraw, extending their lead to 4-2. The Tigers were unable to respond in their half of the inning, going down in order without scoring.
ETBU's offense surged in the fifth inning, beginning with Costa's solo home run. Bumpus and Lea added RBI singles, contributing to a three-run inning that tied the game at 5-5. The momentum continued in the sixth inning, where the Tigers exploded for eight runs, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Rumachik and a two-RBI double from Costa, giving them a commanding 13-7 lead.
In the seventh inning, Lea hit a two-run homer, pushing the lead to 15-8. ETBU capped their scoring with three more runs in the eighth, including a two-RBI double from Livesay and an RBI single from Bumpus, to secure an 18-8 victory.
Top Performers
L. Finn
- 3 runs
- 2 stolen bases
C. Livesay
- 3 runs
- 2 RBIs
L. Bumpus
- 3 hits
- 2 RBIs
B. Lea
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
H. Rumachik
- 4 RBIs
- 4 assists
Game 2
ETBU 5, HSU 2
ETBU secured a 5-2 victory over HSU, overcoming an early deficit, scoring three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead, and adding insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. The Tigers recorded eight hits and capitalized on three errors by Hardin-Simmons, while their pitching staff limited the visitors to two runs on seven hits, with nine strikeouts over nine innings.
Bumpus scored two runs and stole two bases in the win. Lea also delivered a strong performance, hitting a home run with two RBIs. Burnaman recorded two hits, including a double, and drove in one run. Bogusz excelled on the mound, pitching seven innings and striking out seven while allowing only two earned runs.
Bogusz pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven batters without issuing a walk, moving to 3-0. Braden Hodge pitched 1 inning, allowing no hits and striking out 1 batter, with 1 walk. Noah Bushko also pitched one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter to earn the save.
In the fourth inning, the Tigers capitalized on a strong offensive showing to take the lead. After Livesay had singled and was caught stealing, Bumpus reached base on a walk. Lea followed with a two-run homer, bringing Bumpus across the plate and putting the Tigers ahead 2-1. The momentum continued as Massimini was hit by a pitch, eventually scoring on a single by Burnaman, who also contributed an RBI to extend the lead to 3-1.
In the seventh inning, ETBU added to its lead. Burnaman doubled to start the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Costa. Finn then delivered an RBI single, allowing Burnaman to score and putting the Tigers up 4-2.
In the eighth inning, Bumpus reached base with a single and stole second. After an error allowed Massimini to reach first and Bumpus to advance to third, Rumachik pinch-ran for Massimini. He then stole second, allowing Bumpus to steal home and score another run, making it 5-2 in favor of the Tigers.
ETBU's defense held strong in the ninth inning, preventing Hardin-Simmons from closing the gap. Bushko took the mound and, despite allowing a walk and a single, managed to keep the visitors from scoring, sealing the 5-2 victory.
Top Performers
L. Bumpus
- 2 runs scored
- 2 stolen bases
B. Lea
- 2 RBIs
- 1 home run
D. Burnaman
- 1 double
- 2 hits
T. Bogusz
- 7 innings pitched
- 7 strikeouts
ETBU host Texas Dallas weekend in a four-game series starting on Thursday night.
