MARSHALL, Texas – Finishing the American Southwest Conference series off with a doubleheader sweep, No. 1 East Texas Baptist University moved to 28-2 and 6-0, taking both from Howard Payne University. ETBU won 6-3 and then finished the series in a run-rule, five-inning win, 8-0.
Tristen Maddox went 6-of-7 with three RBI, a double, and a home run with five runs scored.
Emma Bell added three hits with two RBI and a double.
Izabella Morales gave three RBI on two hits.
Tauryn Cummings hit a home run with two RBIs, and
Madalyn Melton added two RBI.
Haylie Stum and
Ava Rodriguez also had one RBI.
Avery Holland won game one, going six innings with five strikeouts, giving up three earned runs on eight hits.
Hannah Benavides earned a save pitching the final inning with one strikeout. She went on to win game two of the doubleheader in relief with five strikeouts.
GAME 1
ETBU 6, HPU 3
ETBU secured a 6-3 victory over HPU by scoring four runs in the first two innings.
Avery Holland pitched six innings for the Tigers, allowing eight hits and three earned runs while striking out five batters moving to 8-0. Benavides came in for relief, pitching one inning without allowing a hit or a walk and striking out one batter to earn a save.
Maddox led ETBU, recording three hits, including a home run and a double, while also driving in two runs and scoring twice. Morales added two hits, two runs, and two RBIs, highlighted by a double. Bell gave ETBU two hits with one RBI and
Ava Rodriguez added one RBI.
ETBU began their game against Howard Payne with a strong first inning. Maddox singled to shortstop and advanced to second on a steal. Morales then doubled down the left field line, bringing Maddox home. Rodriguez later singled to third base, allowing Morales to score, giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Tigers extended their lead.
Mallory Pyle doubled to third base and was driven home by Maddox's two-run homer, making it 4-0. Howard Payne managed to get runners on base in the top of the inning but were unable to capitalize, leaving two on base.
The fourth inning saw ETBU increase their lead further. After
Mary Frances Ellis advanced to third on a passed ball, Morales singled down the right field line, bringing Ellis home. Morales then scored on a Bell double to left center, pushing the score to 6-1.
Howard Payne mounted a comeback attempt in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a combination of hits and a fielder's choice. However, the Tigers' defense held firm, maintaining the lead at 6-3 as Benavides came in the seventh inning for the save.
Top Performers
Tristen Maddox
- 3 hits
- 2 home runs
- 2 RBIs
Izabella Morales
- 2 runs
- 2 RBIs
- 1 double
Avery Holland
- 6 innings pitched
- 5 strikeouts
- 1.67 WHIP
Hannah Benavides
- 1 inning pitched
- 1 strikeout
- 0.00 WHIP
GAME 2
ETBU 8, HPU 0 (5 inn)
ETBU shut out Howard Payne with a decisive five-run fifth inning to run-rule the game.
Larkin Daniels pitched 1.1 innings allowing no earned runs, with three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Hannah Benavides followed going 3.2 innings, giving up only two hits and no earned runs while striking out five moving to 5-1.
Maddox stood out for the Tigers, scoring three runs and securing three hits in three at-bats, including a double, with two stolen bases. Cummings had a home run and two RBIs.
Madalyn Melton also added two RBI as
Haylie Stum,
Emma Bell, and
Izabella Morales had one RBI.
The Tigers secured an early lead in the first inning with Maddox scoring on an RBI groundout by Morales, followed by a solo home run from Cummings. This put ETBU ahead 2–0. In the third inning, the Tigers extended their lead with Maddox again making an impact by singling, stealing second, advancing on a sacrifice, and scoring on an RBI groundout from Bell to make it 3-0
The fifth inning was pivotal for ETBU as they capitalized on an error and strung together hits to score five runs. Maddox drove in a run with a double, while a two-run single from Melton and an RBI double from Stum highlighted the inning. The took the win 8-0 in five innings.
Top Performers
Tristen Maddox
- 3 runs scored
- 3 hits
- 2 stolen bases
Tauryn Cummings
- 2 RBIs
- 1 home run
Madalyn Melton
- 2 RBIs
- 1 stolen base
Hannah Benavides
- 5 strikeouts
- 2 hits allowed in 3 2/3 innings pitched
- WHIP of 0.63
ETBU will take on LeTourneau University on Tuesday in Longview in an ASC doubleheader.
