MARSHALL, Texas — Propelled by two home runs and 15 hits, no. 23/26 East Texas Baptist University came from behind for a 12-8 victory over Howard Payne University in game one of a four-game American Southwest Conference series. ETBU is now 27-10 and 9-0 in the ASC, clinching the regular season championship with the win.
Carson Livesay led the team with four RBIs and added two runs and two hits, including a double and a triple.
Raef Wright had three runs, two hits, and two RBIs, including a home run.
Carter Nannini recorded a home run while scoring two runs and driving in one RBI.
Jobee Boone showcased his hitting skills with three hits and an RBI, also stealing a base.
Joaquin Costa and
Juan Ortigoza added two hits each as
Connor Massimini had two RBIs.
ETBU's pitching was led by
Tyler Bogusz, who threw five innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while striking out six batters and not issuing any walks. He secured his fourth win of the season, improving to a 4-2 record.
Aiden Leonard provided a strong relief effort, pitching four innings with eight strikeouts, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and two walks for his second save of the season.
In the second inning, Wright singled and later scored alongside
Nathan Harmon, thanks to Livesay's two-RBI triple to center field. Livesay then scored on a balk, putting the Tigers ahead 3-1 after trailing 1-0.
Howard Payne responded in the third inning with a three-run homer, moving them ahead 4-3. However, the Tigers reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning. Harmon doubled and scored on a Livesay RBI double, followed by a successful sacrifice fly by Massimini. A miscue by Howard Payne allowed Nannini to score, ending the inning at 7-4.
In the fifth inning, Livesay's sacrifice fly and Massimini's RBI single extended the lead to 9-5. The sixth inning saw Wright's two-run homer, pushing the score to 11-5. Howard Payne hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, narrowing the gap to 11-8, but the Tigers added a solo home run by Nannini in their half of the inning.
The final two innings saw no further scoring, as the Tigers maintained their advantage to claim the win, 12-8. Leonard struck out the final two batters of the inning and the final six batters after a single to start the eighth inning. He retired the side in the sixth and ninth innings.
In their next game, ETBU will host Howard Payne at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 24, in an ASC doubleheader.
East Tex. Baptist Top Performers >>
Carson Livesay
- 2 runs
- 4 RBIs
- 1 double
- 1 triple
Carter Nannini
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 home run
- 1 stolen base
Raef Wright
- 3 runs
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 home run
Jobee Boone
- 3 hits
- 1 RBI
- 1 stolen base
Tyler Bogusz
- 5 innings pitched
- 6 strikeouts
- 0 walks
