MARSHALL, Texas — Facing off in a top 25 series in the second week of the 2026 season, no. 9 East Texas Baptist University swept no. 14 Belhaven University, 8-0 (6 inn), and 1-0. ETBU moves to 4-0 on the year. The last time the two teams faced off came in the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship where ETBU won the final two games for the championship.
 
Pitchers Avery Holland and McKenzie Jones earned the wins with two shutouts. Holland allowed no runs, three hits, and only one walk, pitching all six innings in the run-ruled first game. Jones pitched a perfect seven innings in the second game with no runs, no walks, and gave up six hits. Piper Morton recorded five hits on six at-bats, scoring two runs and recording two RBI and a home run. Izabella Morales added three hits with two RBI and Maci Shirley recorded a home run.
 

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Game 1
ETBU 8, Belhaven 0
Another stellar defensive performance led ETBU in an 8-0 shut-out against Belhaven in game one with a run-rule victory. The Valor Gals collected 13 hits, including a home run, while capitalizing on seven walks. ETBU scored in four consecutive innings, with a three-run fifth inning highlighting its offensive push. Holland combined for six strikeouts and allowed only three hits to secure the win.
 
Morton led the offense with four hits, two runs, and two RBI, including a home run. Morales drove in two runs and scored once, with a double among her two hits. Katelynn Jones added two hits and reached base three times.
 
The scoring began in the third inning when the Tigers took a 1-0 lead. A pivotal moment occurred in the fourth inning as the team added two more runs. Aleyna St. Jean singled and soon scored on a single by Morales. The momentum continued in the fifth with a solo home run by Piper Morton and additional runs driven in by Morales and Jones, extending the lead to 6-0. The final scoring occurred in the sixth inning, with two runs capitalized on wild pitches. ETBU's defense held Belhaven scoreless throughout the game.
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Game 2
ETBU 1, Belhaven 0
The Tigers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Belhaven in the second game of the double header. Jones pitched a complete game shutout, allowing six hits and striking out four. Shirley provided the game's only run with a solo home run in the third inning.
 
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Shirley delivered a solo home run to left field, giving ETBU the lead. In the fourth inning, Belhaven threatened with a single, but ETBU's defense held firm, preventing any runs from scoring. In the sixth inning, the Tigers' Morales singled and advanced to third base on a sacrifice, but the team was unable to extend its lead. Belhaven's final opportunity to score came in the seventh inning, but ETBU's defense successfully retired all three batters, securing the shutout win.
 
ETBU will hit the road for the first time this season to play Willamette on February 28th in Georgetown, Texas, at 12:00 p.m. 
 
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