MARSHALL, Texas — Capitalizing in the season opener with a strong offensive performance, No. 25/26 East Texas Baptist University (1-0) secured a 9-4 victory over Austin College (0-1). ETBU's strongest inning came in the seventh with four runs as they finished the game with 11 hits, including four doubles and a home run, while limiting Austin to six hits over nine innings.
 
Joaquin Costa recorded two hits, including a double, scored twice, and drove in one run, adding a stolen base. Connor Massimini tallied three RBI with two doubles and a hit-by-pitch, finishing with two hits and a walk. Raef Wright contributed three RBIs and a stolen base, reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Nathan Harman added two hits as Colby Wilson and Juan Oritgoza both had a RBI. Aiden Leonard pitched five innings, striking out nine and allowing three runs on four hits, earning the win.
 
The Tigers' pitching staff was headlined by Leonard, who threw five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, while striking out nine. Garrett Walker contributed a scoreless inning of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out one as Carter May followed with 1 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on no hits. Conner Smeltzer closed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out one and allowing only one hit.
 
ETBU and Austin were tied 1-1 after the first inning as Wright grounded out for a RBI. In the third inning, AC had a home run, putting them ahead 2-1. However, ETBU responded in the fourth with a three-run inning. Costa's RBI single brought in Ortigoza, and Wright added two more runs with a single to left, bringing the score to 4-2 after four innings.
 
In the fifth inning, both teams added a run each. For ETBU, Harmon tripled and was driven in by an Ortigoza double, maintaining a 5-3 lead. The seventh inning saw the Tigers extend their lead to six. Wilson hit a solo home run, and after Harmon doubled, Massimini cleared the bases with a double, driving in three runs and giving ETBU a 9-3 advantage.
 
AC managed to score one more run in the eighth; however, the Tigers' pitching closed out the game without further incident, securing a 9-4 victory.
 
ETBU will host Chapman (CA) at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, in Marshall, Texas.
 

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East Tex. Baptist Top Performers:
J. Costa
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 RBI
- 1 stolen base
 
C. Massimini
- 1 run
- 2 hits
- 3 RBIs
- 2 doubles
 
R. Wright
- 1 hit
- 3 RBIs
- 1 stolen base
 
C. Wilson
- 1 run
- 1 hit
- 1 home run
- 1 RBI
 
N. Harmon
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 double
- 1 triple