BROWNWOOD, Texas – Traveling to West Texas for a four-game American Southwest Conference series, no. 6 East Texas Baptist University took a double header on the first day over Howard Payne University, moving to 27-3. ETBU produced 27 hits and 20 runs in two games as seven players had two or more hits.
Makayla Menchue led the team with five hits, including a double, with three RBI.
Ryan Stratman and
Ava Rodriguez both added four hits, and
Piper Morton collected three hits.
Katelynn Jones,
Izabella Morales, and
Emma Boren gave two hits. Rodiguez, Morton, Jones, and Morales all had two RBI, while Stratman and
Lauren Vallery had one RBI.
Avery Holland and
McKenzie Jones received the wins.
Game 1
ETBU 15, HPU 1 (5 inn)
ETBU overwhelmed Howard Payne with a decisive 15–1 victory in game one, tallying 14 hits and scoring in every inning.
Katelynn Jones scored three runs, collected two hits, and drove in two runs, while also tallying two stolen bases. Menchue recorded three hits and two RBIs while crossing the plate twice. Stratman added two hits and one RBI, along with a stolen base.
Izabella Morales contributed with one RBI, scored once, and stole a base. Rodriguez also added two hits and an RBI. Also adding an RBI were Morton and Valley.
Holland pitched four innings, allowing three hits and an earned run while striking out two batters.
Macie Lee took over for the final inning, delivering one strikeout and allowing just one hit.
ETBU opened the game with a strong offensive performance, scoring three runs in the first inning.
Katelynn Jones walked and advanced to third on a single by Stratman, who then stole second. Morales grounded out to second base, allowing Jones to score. Rodriguez contributed with an RBI single to center field, scoring Stratman. Menchue added to the tally with an RBI single, bringing Rodriguez home for an unearned run and a 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Tigers'
Katelynn Jones singled and stole second. She advanced to third on a groundout by Stratman. Morales walked and stole second, setting up Morton, who singled to bring in both Jones and Morales to push the score to 5-0.
ETBU extended their lead in the third inning, starting with a Menchue single, and
Mallory Pyle was then hit by a pitch.
Katelynn Jones delivered a two-run double to left field, scoring Menchue and Pyle. Jones then stole third and scored on a single by Stratman. Howard Payne managed to score one run in their half, but the Tigers remained ahead 8–1.
In the fourth inning, ETBU added two more runs.
Emma Boren singled and was replaced by pinch runner
Carley Johnson, who scored on a double by Menchue. Menchue later scored on a fielding error as ETBU took a nine-run lead, 10-1.
The Tigers rounded off their commanding performance in the fifth inning with five additional runs.
Kayleigh Cassels and
Macie Mathis reached base, and
Ashley De Leon singled to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Mathis to score, and an error enabled both De Leon and
Emma Boren to cross the plate, with Vallery also contributing with an RBI single for the 15-1 final.
ETBU Top Performers
Katelynn Jones
- 3 runs
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 2 stolen bases
Makayla Menchue
- 2 runs
- 3 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 double
Ava Rodriguez
- 1 run
- 2 hits
- 1 RBI
Game 2
ETBU 5, HPU 1
ETBU secured a decisive 5-1 victory over HPU in game two, amassing 13 hits and successfully stealing four bases, while the pitching staff held Howard Payne to just one run on six hits.
Stratman showcased speed on the bases with two stolen bases and added two hits while scoring once. Morales scored twice and added two hits with one RBI. Morton, Menchue, and Rodriguez both produced two hits with one RBI.
McKenzie Jones pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run over seven innings and striking out four batters.
In the first inning, Stratman and Morales set the tone by each advancing a base on a steal, leading to runs scored on a single by Morton for the 2-0 lead.
ETBU extended its lead in the fifth inning with two more runs. Morales scored on a single by Rodriguez, followed by
Carley Johnson, who pinch ran and scored on a single by Menchue to make it 4-0.
In the sixth inning,
Aleyna St. Jean scored after advancing on a steal and a groundout, bringing the score to 5-0. Howard Payne responded with a triple and one run to make it a 5-1 final.
ETBU will play two more games on Friday at Howard Payne at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. to finish out the four-game ASC series.
ETBU Top Performers
Ryan Stratman
- 2 hits
- 1 run
- 2 stolen bases
Izabella Morales
- 2 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 RBI
- 1 stolen base
McKenzie Jones
- 7 innings pitched
- 1 complete game
- 4 strikeouts
- 1 earned run allowed
