MARSHALL, Texas – Using only two pitchers recording 18 strikeouts in an American Southwest Conference double header sweep of seven-inning games, No. 23/26 East Texas Baptist University took both games, 7-2, and 16-1, over Howard Payne University moving to 29-10 and 11-0 in the ASC. ETBU produced 26 hits for 23 runs with five home runs, five doubles, and one triple collecting 22 RBI.
Carter Nannini led the team going 7-of-8 on the day with three runs scored, four RBI, on a double, triple, and home run.
Juan Ortigoza added three hits, one a home run, for one RBI as
Carson Livesay also had three hits and one RBI.
Connor Massimini gave five RBI on three hits with a home run.
Colby Wilson recorded two RBI and
Brody Tewers hit a grand slam recording four RBI.
Kahne Nolen finished with three RBI.
Joaquin Costa had a RBI on two hits.
Isaac Thornton and Coby Myers earned the wins both pitching complete seven-inning games. Thornton moved to 7-2 on the year with nine strikeouts allowing just six hits and two earned runs. Myers won the run-ruled game two in seven innings picking up his third win allowing just one hit and one earned run with nine strikeouts.
Game 1
ETBU 7, HPU 2
ETBU tallied 11 hits, including four doubles and a home run, to stay at 10-0 in the ASC with the 7-2 win in game one. Nannini recorded three hits, including a double and a triple, while driving in two runs. Nolen contributed three RBIs, adding a double. Ortigoza scored twice and hit a home run, also collecting one RBI. Livesay was 2-of-2 and scored twice as Massimini had a RBI.
Thornton delivered a complete game performance, pitching seven innings while allowing two earned runs. He struck out nine batters and issued no walks allowing just six hits. He retired the side in the fourth and seventh innings.
Livesay started the first inning with a double to left field, setting the stage for the Tigers. This was followed by Massimini's single up the middle, which drove in Livesay. Nannini and Nolen added consecutive hits, with Nolen's double bringing Massimini home, giving the Tigers a 2–1 lead after the first inning.
In the third inning, Nannini tripled to right center, and Nolen's sacrifice fly allowed him to score, extending the Tigers' lead to 3–1.
Ortigoza hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning, adding to the lead. Livesay followed with a single and stole second, but the inning concluded with no additional runs for a 4-1 lead.
Howard Payne responded in the fifth inning with a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 4–2. However, the Tigers held onto their lead.
The Tigers made a decisive move in the sixth inning as Ortigoza and Livesay reached base, setting up Nannini. He followed through with a doubled down the right field line, scoring both runners. Nolen then hit a sacrifice fly, driving in Massimini, which pushed the lead to 7–2.
The seventh inning saw no additional scoring from either team, securing the Tigers' 7–2 victory over Howard Payne.
East Tex. Baptist Top Performers >>
Carson Livesay
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 double
- 1 stolen base
Carter Nannini
- 1 run
- 3 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 triple
Juan Ortigoza
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 home run
- 1 RBI
Isaac Thornton
- 7 innings pitched
- 9 strikeouts
- 6 hits allowed
- Complete game
Game 2
ETBU 16, HPU 1
Hitting four home runs and amassing 15 hits, ETBU ran away with the game three win of the series, 16-1, over Howard Payne. They scored five runs in the second and seven in the sixth with four home runs, including a grand slam.
Massimini scored three runs, collecting two hits, and driving in four RBIs, including a home run. Nannini added to the team's offense with a home run, two RBIs, and four hits while crossing the plate twice. Wilson contributed a home run, two runs, and two RBIs. Tewers had two hits with a grand slam and a four RBI as Livesay added one RBI.
Philip Orr also had a RBI and
Justin Flannery added two hits.
Myers delivered an impressive complete-game performance, pitching seven innings and allowing just two hits and no earned runs. He struck out nine batters, retiring the side in the second, fourth, fifth, and six innings, while issuing just two walks, improving his record to 3-1. At one point, he retired 10 straight batters.
In the bottom of the first inning, ETBU tied the score at 1-1 when Costa singled up the middle, driving in Nannini for the first run. ETBU's offense erupted in the second inning, adding five runs to their tally. Ortigoza started with a single, followed by hits from Wilson and Flannery, loading the bases. Livesay's RBI single scored Ortigoza. A passed ball allowed Wilson to score, and then Massimini homered to left center, bringing in three more runs. By the end of the second, ETBU led, 6-1.
The offensive momentum continued in the third inning with three more runs. After a double by Flannery, Massimini hit an RBI single. Following a stolen base and an error, Nannini homered to right, scoring Massimini extending the lead to 9-1.
In the sixth inning, ETBU further extended its lead. Wilson hit a two-run homer, after which Tewers hit a grand slam, contributing to a seven-run inning, making it 16-1.
After HPU started the seventh with a double, Myers struck out the side to end the game.
ETBU will finish the series with one game on Friday at 1:00 p.m. vs. HPU.
East Tex. Baptist Top Performers
Connor Massimini
- 3 runs
- 2 hits
- 4 RBIs
- 1 home run
Carter Nannini
- 2 runs
- 4 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 home run
Brody Tewers
- 1 run
- 2 hits
- 4 RBIs
- 1 home run
Colby Wilson
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 home run
Cody Myers
- 7 innings pitched
- 2 hits allowed
- 0 earned runs
- 9 strikeouts
