MARSHALL, Texas — Scoring in five of the eight innings played, No. 24 East Texas Baptist University (13-6) run-ruled the University of St. Thomas (Tex.) (8-13), 13-3 on Tuesday night. ETBU capitalized on two home runs and had 11 hits that scored the 13 runs.
Joaquin Costa scored three runs and collected two hits, adding one RBI to lead the team.
Carson Livesay contributed with two runs and two hits, while driving in two RBIs.
Connor Massimini recorded three RBIs and belted a home run, scoring twice with two hits.
Jobee Boone also tallied three RBIs, including a home run, and drew two walks. Adding a RBI were
Raef Wright,
Nathan Harmon as
Brody Tewers had two RBIs.
Nolan Bushko opened the game for the Tigers, pitching 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts, allowing two earned runs on two hits for the no decision.
Anthony Tellez made a brief relief appearance, striking out one in 2/3 inning without conceding a hit or run.
Brayden Hodge followed with a scoreless inning, striking out three batters and earning the win, moving his record to 1-1.
Jaxson Thompson allowed one earned run in 1/3 inning, while
Harris Woodside and
Garrett Walker combined to close the game without allowing any hits or runs over the final 1 2/3 innings.
ETBU started strong in the first inning, as Costa singled up the middle and later came around to score on a single by Massimini. Livesay contributed with a sacrifice fly, and Tewers added two more runs with a single through the left side for the 4-0.
In the third inning, Massimini extended the lead with a solo home run to left center, bringing the score to 5-0. UST managed to get on the board in the fourth inning with a RBI double. However, ETBU responded with two runs of their own, courtesy of a two-RBI single by Livesay, ending the inning with a 7-1 advantage.
The fifth inning saw the Tigers expand their lead significantly. Boone hit a solo home run, followed by a series of plays that included a wild pitch, a fielder's choice RBI by Costa, a hit-by-pitch RBI for Massimini, and a bases-loaded walk for Boone as the lead was moved to 10 runs, 12-2.
In the seventh inning, UST added another run with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to nine, 12-3, but ETBU's final run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth when Harmon drew a bases-loaded walk, allowing Costa to score, cementing the final score at 13–3.
ETBU will take the field at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, when they host Texas Lutheran in Marshall, Texas.
ETBU Top Performers
Connor Massimini
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
Jobee Boone
- 1 run
- 1 hit
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
Joaquin Costa
- 3 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 RBI
Carson Livesay
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 stolen base
Nolan Bushko
- 4 1/3 innings pitched
- 5 strikeouts
- 2 hits allowed
