ABILENE, Texas — Producing football-type numbers in the final American Southwest Conference series game, East Texas Baptist University produced a nine-run win, 26–17, over Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday at Hunter Field. ETBU capitalized on 20 walks and three home runs to overpower the Cowboys and move to 22-10 and 4-0 in the ASC.
 
Kahne Nolen led the team with eight RBIs, including a home run and a double, while also scoring three runs. Connor Massimini added three RBIs, highlighted by his home run, and walked three times. Joaquin Costa added four hits, including two doubles, and drove in two runs with two runs scored. Nathan Harmon delivered three hits, three RBIs, and a home run, while also getting hit by pitches twice. Jobee Boone finished with three hits for four RBI as Carter Nannini had two hits, four runs scored, and a RBI. Carson Livesay scored five times, getting on base seven times with six walks, and produced an RBI. His six walks are a new ETBU single-game record while tying the ASC record by Dylan Sweeney (HSU) set in 2015, surpassing four walks in a game by Tommy Edwards (2004) and Brandon Vorse (2004) for ETBU. Raef Wright also had an RBI.
 
Matthew Irwin allowed six hits and four earned runs over an inning of work, while giving up one home run. Brayden Hodge surrendered six runs on five hits in just 2/3 of an inning, also issuing a wild pitch. Jake Schumacher provided stability, pitching 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts, allowing two earned runs, and recording his second win of the season. Aiden Leonard closed effectively with two scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and striking out one. Garrett Walker worked the ninth inning, allowing one earned run on two hits.
 
ETBU opened the first inning with a powerful offensive display. Livesay earned a walk, setting the stage for Massimini's two-run homer to left field. After a throwing error allowed Nannini to reach base, Nolen followed with a two-run home run, giving ETBU a 4–0 lead. Hardin-Simmons responded with three runs, including a solo homer, closing the inning with ETBU leading 4–3.
 
In the second inning, ETBU added seven runs to its tally. Justin Flannery walked and was driven home by Nannini's RBI single. Nolen's bases-loaded walk scored another, and Costa's double added two more runs. Harmon capped the inning with a two-run homer. Hardin-Simmons countered with nine runs to take a 12–11 lead in the bottom of the inning.
 
ETBU tied the game at 12 in the third inning when Nannini scored on a fielder's choice. The fourth inning saw ETBU regain the lead as Livesay scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Nolen, making it 13–12.
 
ETBU extended its lead in the fifth inning as Harmon advanced on a wild pitch and scored, increasing the lead to 14–12. In the sixth inning, Costa's single and subsequent stolen base set up Boone's RBI single, pushing the lead to 15–12. Hardin-Simmons added two runs on ahomer, narrowing the gap to 15–14.
 
The eighth inning was pivotal, with ETBU driving in eight runs. Boone and Harmon were hit by pitches, and a balk further advanced the runners. Walks and a hit by pitch plated three runs, while Nolen's three-RBI double widened the margin ending the inning with a nine-run lead, 23–14.
 
In the ninth inning, ETBU scored three more runs. Wright scored on a wild pitch, and Nolen's bases-loaded walk brought in another run. Massimini scored on a double play, solidifying a 26–14 lead. Hardin-Simmons managed three runs in its half of the ninth but fell short as ETBU took all four games of the series.
 
ETBU will host Mary Hardin-Baylor in a four-game ASC series next week starting on Thursday.
 

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ETBU Top Performers
Kahne Nolen
- 8 RBIs
- 2 hits
- 1 home run
 
Nathan Harmon
- 3 hits
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
 
Jobee Boone
- 3 hits
- 4 RBIs
- 2 runs
 
Connor Massimini
- 3 runs
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run