ABILENE, Texas – Rallying in the top of the seventh inning in both games, no. 1 East Texas Baptist University swept no. 25 Hardin-Simmons University on the road in the first double header of the American Southwest Conference Top 25 series, 5-3, and 8-6. ETBU is now 35-3 and 13-1 in the ASC.
ETBU scored four runs in the top of the seventh of game one for a 5-3 win overcoming a 3-1 deficit. In game two, ETBU was down 6-0 headed into the top of the sixth inning as they scored two runs to pull within four, 6-2. The top of the seventh inning brought six runs for the 8-6 comeback win.
Izabella Morales led with five hits in eight at-bats with a double and two RBI.
Katelynn Jones added three hits and two RBI while
Mary Frances Ellis had two hits and two RBI.
Tauryn Cummings collected two hits while
Tristen Maddox provided two doubles for four RBI.
Sydney Green also had a RBI.
Avery Holland won game one going seven innings recording five strikeouts and received the save in game two pitching the final inning.
Larkin Daniels pitched one inning in relief receiving the win with one strikeout.
Game 1
ETBU 5, HSU 3
Four runs were scored in the top of the seventh inning for ETBU as they came back from one-run down, 2-1. With two outs, ETBU scored all four runs starting with Ellis on a fielder's choice that turned into the tying run followed by a bad throw allowing
Madalyn Melton to score to go up one, 3-2. After Maddox was hit by the pitch to load the bases, Morales singled through the left side bringing both Ellis and
Aleyna St. Jean for a three-run lead, 5-2. ETBU gave up one run in the bottom of the seventh but Holland struck the next two batters out before a line out ended the game.
Morales and Cummings both had two hits. Morales added two RBI while Maddox and Ellis had one RBI. Holland gave up three earned runs on four hits but had five strikeouts. She retired the side in the fifth inning.
Game 2
ETBU 8, HSU 6
Scoring eight runs in the final two innings after getting no hits through 4.2 innings, ETBU was down 6-0 through five innings. The Tigers didn't have their first hit until the fifth inning with two outs.
Moralez went 3-of-5 with a run scored and Jones recorded two hits for two RBI and one run scored. Maddox had three RBI and Ellis and Green added one RBI. Four pitchers were used as
Hannah Benavides started the game going 1.2 innings with one strikeout, three earned runs, and five hits.
McKenzie Jones then went 3.1 innings with two hits and two runs. Daniels received the win working one inning with one strikeout and no hits or runs. Holland then closed the game in the seventh for the save.
HSU scored four in the second, one in the third, and one in the fifth for a 6-0 lead. They held ETBU in check for 4.2 innings allowing no hits before Morales broke it with two outs. HSU made it 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning before ETBU found a way to score in the sixth.
HSU started the inning with three straight walks to load the bases. Jones brought in the first run singling up the middle. With one out, Ellis hit into a fielder's choice as Melton came home for the second run. IN the bottom the sixth, Daniels walked the first batter but HSU hit into a double play and then struck out to end the inning setting up a fantastic seventh inning.
Morales started the inning with a double and then
Emma Bell made it on by a HSU throwing error. Cummings bunt turned into a throwing error that brought in a run to cut the lead to three, 6-3. After a flyout and a walk, Jones singled to centerfield as Bell came in making it 6-4. Green then had a sac fly with Cummings coming in to put ETBU within one, 6-5. Ellis followed with a single to left field to load the bases with two outs. Maddox doubled to deep left center field to clear the bases for three RBI and a two-run lead, 8-6. After another ETBU single, the inning ended on a ground out.
Holland came in to work the seventh and retired the side with a line out, fly out, and pop out as ETBU earned their 35
th win of the year.
The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with a double header.
