ABILENE, Texas – Scoring 23 runs on 17 hits, East Texas Baptist University throttled Hardin-Simmons University in a double header sweep in West Texas, 8-6, and 15-1. ETBU is now 21-10 and moves to 3-0 in the ASC taking the series. The two teams will play a nine-inning game on Friday starting at 12:00 p.m.
Jobee Boone led the team with five hits, one double, and had one RBI.
Justin Flannery added two hits, both home runs in which one was a grand slam, for seven RBI.
Carter Nannini,
Joaquin Costa, and
Brody Tewers all had two hits. Tewers earned five RBI while Costa and
Carson Livesay had two, and
Connor Massimini,
Raef Wright, and
Kahne Nolen added one RBI.
Cody Meyers and
Conner Smeltzer earned the wins as
Aiden Leonard had a save.
Game 1
ETBU 8, HSU 6 (7 inn)
Breaking a tie with a five-run sixth inning, ETBU came away with an 8–6 victory over Hardin-Simmons University on Thursday at Hunter Field in game one. ETBU overcame a Hardin-Simmons four-run rally in the fifth by scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning to retake the lead, 8-4.
Livesay scored two runs and drove in two more, recording one hit. Massimini added one run and one hit, while also drawing two walks and being hit by two pitches. Costa tallied two runs and added a double to his stat line. Boone had two hits and one RBI as both Nolen and Wright recorded an RBI.
Thornton started and allowed four earned runs on five hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Smeltzer relieved Thornton, pitching 2/3 of an inning, giving up two earned runs on one hit, with one walk and one strikeout for the win. Leonard closed the game with 1 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit, earning the save.
In the second inning, Costa doubled to left center, later scoring along with
Juan Ortigoza on Livesay's single down the right field line. Livesay then scored on Massimini's single, giving the Tigers a 3–0 lead through two innings.
The game shifted in the fifth inning when Hardin-Simmons scored four runs on an inside the park homerun to take a one-run lead, 4–3.
ETBU responded in the sixth inning as Nolen's walk forced in a run, and Wright's fielder's choice added another. A balk brought in Nannini, and Boone's single and a subsequent balk brought in two more, regaining the lead at 8–4.
Hardin-Simmons added two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Leonard closed the door in the seventh, securing the win for the Tigers with a final score of 8–6.
ETBU Top Performers
Carson Livesay
- 2 runs
- 2 RBIs
- 1 stolen base
Connor Massimini
- 1 run
- 2 walks
- 2 hit by pitches
Isaac Thornton
- 7 strikeouts
- 4 2/3 innings pitched
Aiden Leonard
- 1 2/3 innings pitched
- 1 save
Game 2
ETBU 15, HSU 1 (7 inn)
Exploding for 10 runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by three home runs, ETBU sealed the win over Hardin-Simmons, 15-1, in a run-ruled game. ETBU had 15 runs on nine hits as five were for extra base hits.
Costa drove in two runs and scored once as Boone collected three hits, including a double, while crossing the plate twice. Tewers recorded five RBIs with a home run and a double.
Justin Flannery notched seven RBIs with two home runs, including a grand slam. Nannani added one RBI.
Cody Myers delivered a strong performance on the mound, pitching 5 2/3 innings with only one earned run and four hits allowed. He struck out four batters and walked one, moving him to a 2-1 record.
Nolan Bushko provided relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on one walk while striking out one.
Explosive scoring came in the second and sixth innings for the 15 runs. The second inning saw Boone double to left-center, followed by Tewers' RBI double that brought Boone home.
Colby Wilson and Ortigoza walked to load the bases for Flannery, who delivered a grand slam to left field, giving ETBU a 5-0 lead after two innings.
In the fifth inning, Hardin-Simmons managed to score with a double, but the Tigers responded with a commanding sixth inning. Ortigoza scored after Nannini was hit by a pitch. Costa's single up the middle brought in two more runs. Tewers then hit a four-run homer, and later, Flannery hit his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to right-center. This barrage extended their lead to 15-1.
Bushko took the mound for the Tigers in relief, helping to maintain the lead through the final innings. The effective pitching combined with the team's offensive power secured the win, with a final score of 15-1.
The two teams will finish the four-game series on Friday at 12:00 PM
ETBU Top Performers
Joaquin Costa
- 1 run
- 1 hit
- 2 RBIs
Jobee Boone
- 2 runs
- 3 hits
- 1 double
Brody Tewers
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 5 RBIs
- 1 home run
Justin Flannery
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 7 RBIs
- 2 home runs
Cody Myers
- 5 2/3 innings pitched
- 4 strikeouts
- 1 earned run
