MARSHALL, Texas — A complete game, nine-inning pitching performance by No. 14 East Texas Baptist University's
Isaac Thornton led the Tigers to a 9-6 opening round victory over Concordia University Texas in the NCAA Division III Marshall, Texas Regional. Thornton recorded eight strikeouts with just one walk as ETBU produced 10 hits with two home runs.
Connor Massimini led the Tigers with a powerful performance, recording four RBIs and hitting a grand slam.
Jobee Boone contributed two hits and two RBIs as
Kahne Nolen had a home run.
Joaquin Costa added two hits and
Carter Nannini had one RBI.
Thornton delivered a complete game performance, pitching nine innings while allowing 6 earned runs on nine hits. Thornton struck out 8 batters with one walk moving to 8-2 on the year. He retired the side in the sixth and eighth innings.
ETBU and Concordia each scored twice in the opening inning.
Carson Livesay and
Carter Nannini both walked, setting up Boone, who drove in two runs with a single to left to tie the game at two.
In the second inning,
Justin Flannery's ground-rule double set the stage for two more runs. Flannery advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Livesay, who reached on a walk, also scored following Nannini's RBI single, pushing the Tigers ahead 4-2 through two innings.
Nolen extended the lead with a solo homer to center in the third, making it 5-2.
Concordia responded in the fourth with a two-run homer but the fifth inning saw the Tigers pull away. With the score tied, Massimini launched a grand slam, scoring
Brody Tewers,
Juan Ortigoza, and Livesay for a four-run advantage, 9-5.
Concordia added a final run with a solo homer in the ninth but fell to ETBU, 9–6.
ETBU will face Rhodes College at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in the winner's bracket.
ETBU Top Performers
Connor Massimini
- 4 RBIs
- 1 home run
- 2 walks
Jobee Boone
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
Kahne Nolen
- 1 home run
- 1 RBI
Isaac Thornton
- 9 innings pitched
- 8 strikeouts
- Complete game
