MARSHALL, Texas — Opening the three-game series with a two-game, double header sweep on Friday, no. 25/26 East Texas Baptist University moved to 3-0 with 12-11 and 5-2 wins over Chapman University. ETBU earned two saves in the sweep with 14 strikeouts, scoring 17 runs on 15 hits with two homeruns and 14 RBI.
Cody Myers and
Isaac Thornton earned the wins as
Conner Smeltzer and
Jake Schumacher had the saves. Myers posted five strikeouts while Thornton had seven.
Raef Wright went 4-of-5 with three RBI, a home run, and double.
Carson Livesay led with four RBI on two hits, in which one was a grand slam.
Kaden Wharton gave three hits and one RBI as
Connor Massimini had two hits.
Nathan Harmon had three RBI and Joaquin added two RBI.
Juan Ortigoza had one RBI.
Game 1
ETBU 12, Chapman 11
ETBU edged Chapman in a high-scoring affair, 12-11, as the Tigers capitalized on a massive eight-run first inning to establish an early lead. Despite Chapman's late surge, which included three runs in the ninth inning, ETBU's initial offensive burst proved decisive for the win. Livesay had a home run and four RBI as Wright added two runs and three RBIs, including a home run and a double, while also stealing a base. Wharton finished with three hits and drove in one run, scoring twice. Costa drew a walk and drove in two runs.
ETBU's pitching lineup saw
Matthew Irwin start the game, pitching 3 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits, with four walks and no strikeouts. Myers came in relief, tossing 5 innings and yielding six earned runs on six hits, while striking out five batters.
Conner Smeltzer concluded the game going 2/3 of an inning, recording one hit and securing a save without allowing any runs.
ETBU set the tone in the first inning with an explosive eight-run performance. Costa, Massimini, and
Justin Flannery each drew walks to load the bases, setting the stage for Wright's two-RBI double down the left field line. Livesay later delivered a pivotal grand slam to center field, giving ETBU a five-run lead, 8-3, after the first.
In the third inning, ETBU extended its lead as Harmon singled up the middle and was driven in by Ortigoza's sacrifice fly, pushing the score to 9-4. ETBU's defense held Chapman scoreless in the third, maintaining their lead. Chapman attempted a comeback in the fourth, scoring two runs, but ETBU's pitching limited further damage. The score stood at 9-6 after four innings. In the seventh, Wright added an insurance run with a solo home run to left field, bringing the score to 11-6.
Chapman chipped away at the lead in the eighth and ninth innings, culminating in a tense ninth where they scored three runs. Smeltzer finished off Chapman getting the final two outs for the save as ETBU held on for the 12-11 win.
East Tex. Baptist Top Performers
C. Livesay
- 4 RBIs
- 1 home run
- 1.400 OPS
R. Wright
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
- 2.750 OPS
K. Wharton
- 2 runs
- 3 hits
- 1.500 OPS
J. Costa
- 2 RBIs
- 4 assists
Game 2
ETBU 5, Chapman 2
ETBU secured a 5-2 victory over Chapman capitalizing on three Panther errors to score three runs in the fourth inning and added two more in the seventh. The pitching staff held Chapman to just three hits over nine innings, with nine strikeouts and a single home run allowed in the second inning.
Wright posted two hits, one run, and two stolen bases. Thornton delivered on the mound, pitching seven innings with seven strikeouts and securing a win. Harmon brought in two RBIs while scoring one run. Schumacher came in as a reliever, pitching two perfect innings, striking out two and earning a save without allowing any hits or walks. Together, the pitchers limited Chapman to 3 hits and 2 runs over 9 innings.
the top of the second, Chapman took an early lead, 1-0. The Tigers responded in the fourth inning, capitalizing on Chapman's defensive miscues. Harmon reached on an error, allowing Massimini and Wright to score. Nolen then reached on another error, bringing Harmon home. This sequence gave ETBU a 3-1 advantage after the fourth.
In the seventh, Chapman managed to narrow the gap with a solo home run to pull within one, 3-2. However, ETBU extended its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Ortigoza scored on a wild pitch after advancing on a single by Costa. Costa later scored on a throw, increasing the lead to 5-2 after seven innings.
The Tigers maintained their defensive strength in the final two innings. Schumacher's strong pitching saw Chapman unable to generate any further offense as he earned the save, 5-2.
East Tex. Baptist Top Performers
R. Wright
- 2 hits
- 2 stolen bases
- 1 run
N. Harmon
- 1 run
- 2 RBIs
I. Thornton
- 7 innings pitched
- 7 strikeouts
- 3 hits allowed
J. Schumache
- 2 innings pitched
- 2 strikeouts
- 1 save
K. Wharton
- 1 walk
- 4 assists
ETBU will finish the series on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. on James Morgan Day.
