MARSHALL, Texas — After facing its first road test, sweeping both Willamette University and Southwestern University, No. 8 East Texas Baptist University is heading to Georgia to participate in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic. The Tigers will face six teams in Columbus, Ga., including two top-15 matchups. ETBU will face No. 13 Emory on Friday at 9:00 a.m., then will face No. 23 Berry College at 11:30 a.m. Central Time.
Last weekend, ETBU faced both Willamette and Southwestern in Georgetown, Texas, for their first road test and finished 4-0, sweeping both teams.
Here are the game notes for this weekend's matchup.
Gauntlet in Georgia
ETBU is set to take on six opponents this weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., including three nationally ranked teams. The Tigers open play Friday against No. 13 Emory, which climbed two spots in the latest poll. ETBU will also meet No. 23 Berry later Friday and cap the weekend with Sunday's game against top-ranked Trine, the preseason favorite with 10 first-place votes.
Here is the schedule for this week's tournament:
All times are Central
Friday March 6th
No. 13 Emory 9:00 a.m.
No. 23 Berry 11:30 a.m.
Saturday March 7th
Pomona-Pitzer 9:00 a.m.
DePauw 11:30 a.m.
Sunday March 8th
No. 1 Trine 8:00 a.m.
Denison 10:00 a.m.
Tigers By the Numbers
Through eight games, East Texas Baptist has put up standout numbers across the board. Here's a look at the Tigers' early-season statistics:
The Tigers are hitting .381 as a team, with a .480 on-base percentage, a .553 slugging percentage, and seven home runs.
The ETBU pitching staff owns a 1.99 ERA, with 46 strikeouts and just 15 runs allowed in 49 1/3 innings.
ETBU's defense has backed up its pitchers with a .969 fielding percentage. The Tigers have recorded 148 putouts on 195 chances, with 41 assists, two double plays, and just six errors.
Stat Line Spotlight
East Texas Baptist's hot start has been a team effort, but several Tigers have delivered early-season highlights.
Offensively,
Piper Morton,
Katelynn Jones,
Izabella Morales, Ava Bevo Rodriguez,
Makayla Menchue, and
Ashley De Leon have led the way.
Morton tops the stat sheet with a .600 batting average, 1.000 slugging percentage, and .630 on-base percentage.
Jones leads the team with 11 runs scored and eight walks. She is also a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts.
Morales paces the Tigers with 12 hits and two doubles, and is tied with Rodriguez for the team lead in RBIs (12).
Rodriguez leads the squad with three sacrifice flies and is tied for the team lead in RBIs.
De Leon has a team-best two sacrifice bunts.
Menchue has a team-high three home runs. Defensively, she leads ETBU with 47 putouts and two double plays.
Mallory Pyle has contributed 12 assists in the field.
In the circle,
Alexis Kemp and
Avery Holland have anchored the pitching staff.
Kemp owns a team-best 1.47 ERA and is tied with Jones for the team lead with 20 strikeouts.
Holland has limited opponents to a .176 batting average, leads the Tigers with four wins and 10 strikeouts looking, and has logged a team-high 22 1/3 innings.
National Attention
East Texas Baptist University climbed to No. 8 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll. The Tigers jumped one spot from their preseason ranking at No. 9 and picked up 180 votes. ETBU has outscored opponents 62-15 over its first eight games.
Three of ETBU's upcoming opponents are ranked, and the Tigers will play all three next week. ETBU opens against No. 13 Emory on Friday, which moved up from No. 15. Later that day, the Tigers take on No. 23 Berry, which entered the preseason unranked. On Sunday, ETBU faces No. 1 Trine, which received 10 first-place votes.
Conference Standouts
ETBU captured its second American Southwest Conference (ASC) Player of the Week sweep of the season.
Izabella Morales was named Hitter of the Week, while
Alexis Kemp earned Pitcher of the Week honors.
Morales was a force at the plate in all four games, posting a .462 batting average, a .615 slugging percentage, and a .563 on-base percentage. In 13 at-bats, the junior from Richmond, Texas, tallied six hits, four runs, and a triple. She drove in six RBIs, drew three walks, and swiped three bases. Morales consistently delivered in crucial moments, helping ETBU extend its lead against both Willamette and Southwestern.
Kemp starred in the circle, tossing a complete game win over Willamette and picking up another victory in relief against Southwestern. The freshman right-hander from Gilmer, Texas, posted a 2.03 ERA across 10.1 innings, striking out 13 while giving up just nine hits, three runs, and issuing only one walk.
Championship Standard
Under head coach
Janae Shirley, ETBU has become one of the most consistent programs in Division III. Shirley earned her 600th career win in 2025 and continues to lead the Tigers as national contenders. ETBU has hosted an NCAA regional every year since 2019, except for the COVID-abbreviated 2020 season, when they finished as the No. 1 team in the nation as voted by the NFCA. The Tigers have made 12 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances since 2013, winning four regional titles, two super regional titles, and one national championship.
Road Trip
East Texas Baptist is in the midst of a 16-game road swing. The Tigers opened the stretch last week by sweeping Willamette and Southwestern in Georgetown, Texas. ETBU will play six games in Georgia and six in Florida before returning to Marshall to host the University of Dallas.
Securing the Hill
The Tigers have a perfect 66-0 regular-season home record dating to the 2023 season. Including postseason games hosted in Marshall, ETBU is 86-5 at home since 2023. Since 2021, the Tigers are 97-4 at home in the regular season.
Top of Conference
ETBU is 37-2 in conference play over the past two seasons and has not lost a series in ASC play since 2023. The Tigers have won three straight American Southwest Conference championships and earned ASC Coaching Staff of the Year the past two seasons. Last year, ETBU had 12 ASC All-Americans—six on the first team, three on the second team and three on the third team—and picked up 14 ASC Player of the Week awards.
Team 29
ETBU brings back 11 Student-Athletes from last season, including six upperclassmen. The Valor Girls also welcome some newcomers to the program, including 12 freshmen and two transfers.
Two of the Tigers' most experienced returning pitchers are
Avery Holland (29-3, 2.17 ERA, 127 strikeouts) and
McKenzie Jones (7-0, 2.79 ERA, 40 strikeouts). They have totaled more than 270 innings and 167 strikeouts.
Some offensive returners include
Izabella Morales (.408, 89 hits, 39 steals),
Katelynn Jones (.383 and 22 steals), and
Ava Rodriguez (Six home runs and 24 RBI).
Defensively, the Tigers bring back multiple players from the field who pose strong fielding percentages and contributed key putouts and assists.
Mallory Pyle returns as the only senior for the Valor Gals in 2026. Pyle has seen 184 at-bats in her three years with the program and recorded 53 runs with a .408 slugging percentage. Defensively The Utility Player has a .992 fielding percentage.
On the Air
The Tigers begin the Leadoff Classic against Emory at 10:00 a.m. All games will have live stats available here.
