BROWNWOOD, Texas — In their last regular-season road doubleheader, no. 6 East Texas Baptist University scored double-digits in both games against Howard Payne University to take the four-game series moving to 29-3 and 6-0 in the ASC. ETBU won 13-0 in the first game and 10-1 in the second on a Friday at Lady Jacket Park. Six Tigers secured three or more hits on the day, with Mallory Pyle leading the team with four. Ryan Stratman led the team in runs with four, while seven Tigers secured two or more runs. Piper Morton and Aleyna St. Jean both recorded four RBI, leading the team. Alexis Kemp and Avery Holland both pitched complete games for the win, with Kemp going seven innings with no runs allowed and Holland going five innings in the run-rule win, only allowing one run.
Game 1
ETBU 13, HPU 0
ETBU dominated Howard Payne with a 13-0 victory on Friday at Lady Jacket Field. ETBU's offense exploded in the third and seventh innings, scoring four and seven runs, respectively. The team collected 14 hits and stole eight bases, while its pitching staff allowed just four hits and struck out two without issuing a walk. Howard Payne committed four errors, contributing to its shutout loss.
Morton led the Tigers with two runs, three hits, and four RBIs, including a triple. Kemp pitched a complete game, allowing no earned runs and striking out two across seven innings. Izabella Morales contributed two runs, two hits, and two stolen bases. Katelynn Jones scored twice and stole two bases.
In the third inning, Katelynn Jones walked and later scored on a passed ball. Morton tripled to right field, driving in two runs. Emma Boren added another RBI with a single, ending the inning with a 4-0 lead.
The fourth inning brought two unearned runs when Morales reached on an error, allowing both Jones and Ryan Stratman to cross home plate to extend their lead to 6-0.
A surge of runs took place in the seventh inning beginning with Pyle's RBI double. St. Jean and Stratman each contributed with RBIs, followed by Morton's two-RBI single. Julia St. John capped the inning with a two-RBI single, bringing the total to 13-0.
ETBU's defense, led by Kemp's complete game shutout, held Howard Payne scoreless.
Tiger Top Performers
Piper Morton
- 2 runs
- 3 hits
- 4 RBIs
- 1 triple
Katelynn Jones
- 2 runs
- 2 stolen bases
- 2 walks
Izabella Morales
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 2 stolen bases
Ryan Stratman
- 2 hits
- 2 runs
- 1 RBI
Alexis Kemp
- 7 innings pitched
- 4 hits allowed
- 0 earned runs
- 2 strikeouts
Game 2
ETBU 10, HPU 1
The Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets 10-1 in the second game of the doubleheader scoring three runs in the second inning and added another three in the fourth before sealing the win with a four-run fifth inning. Their offense tallied 11 hits and stole six bases, while the pitching staff allowed five hits and struck out two over five innings. Howard Payne managed a single run in the third inning.
Holland delivered a complete game, allowing only one earned run over five innings with two strikeouts. St. Jean tallied three RBIs and scored twice, adding a double and two stolen bases to her performance. Stratman scored twice and contributed a double, recording one RBI and one walk. Morales drove in two runs with one hit and drew a walk.
Neither team scored in the first inning, but ETBU took the lead in the second. Morton walked and eventually scored on a single by St. Jean. Pyle and St. Jean also crossed the plate due to an error by Howard Payne's third baseman. By the end of the inning, the Tigers led 3–0.
The fourth inning saw further scoring from ETBU. Pyle scored on a walk by Morales, followed by Katelynn Jones and Stratman scoring on a single by Ava Rodriguez, extending the lead to 6–1.
ETBU continued to dominate in the fifth inning. St. John and Makayla Menchue scored on a double by St. Jean. Stratman and Morales added runs with an RBI double and single, respectively. By the end of the inning, the Tigers led 10–1 as ETBU took the series.
ETBU will be back home on Saturday when they host Mary Hardin-Baylor in a double header.
Tiger Top Performers
Ryan Stratman
- 2 runs
- 1 double
- 1 RBI
Izabella Morales
- 2 RBIs
- 1 hit
- 1 walk
Ava Rodriguez
- 2 hits
- 1 double
- 2 RBIs
Mallory Pyle
- 2 hits
- 2 runs
Aleyna St. Jean
- 3 RBIs
- 2 hits
- 2 stolen bases
