MARSHALL, Texas — Two hard-fought NCAA Division III Marshall, Texas Regional Championship games resulted in the end of No. 6 East Texas Baptist University's season as they fell to Rowan University, 2-1, and 2-0 on Saturday. ETBU finishes out the season with an impressive 39-6 record, winning both the American Southwest Conference regular season and conference tournament championships, and hosting a NCAA Regional Tournament for the seventh year in a row. ETBU had only one senior on the team in
Mallory Pyle as she won four ASC Championships, a NCAA National Championship, and two Regional Championships.
ETBU's All-Tournament players were Pyle, Ava Rodriquez, and
McKenzie Jones.
Game One
Rowan 2, ETBU 1
Rowan held off ETBU scoring two runs in the second inning as Tigers lone run came in the third inning.
Jones completed the seven inning game allowing only one earned run and striking out four.
Piper Morton contributed with a run scored and a hit.
Emma Boren recorded a hit, including a double.
Aleyna St. Jean added a hit, also.
Rowan took an early lead in the second inning scoring on an unassisted groundout. The Profs' other run was followed by an error making it 2-0 after two innigns.
ETBU responded in the third when Morton singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice by St. Jean.
Ryan Stratman then reached on an error, allowing Morton to score, bringing the score to 2-1 at the end of the third inning. ETBU had runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't get the needed hit to tie the game.
Rowan's pitching retired the side in the sixth and seventh inning to hold onto the win.
Tiger Top Performers
Emma Boren
- 1 hit
- 1 double
Piper Morton
- 1 run
- 1 hit
Aleyna St. Jean
- 1 hit
- 1 sacrifice hit
McKenzie Jones
- 7 innings pitched
- 1 complete game
- 4 strikeouts
Game Two
Rowan 2, ETBU 0
ETBU recorded six hits in the game but didn't score while Rowan capitalized on a solo home run and an additional run to secure the victory.
Stratman collected two hits and added a stolen base. Rodriguez also posted two hits, while St. Jean also added two hits.
Avery Holland pitched 4 2/3 innings, recording one strikeout while allowing two earned runs for the loss.
the second inning, Rowan took the lead with a score from a single up the middle. In the fifth inning, the Profs hit a solo home run to push their lead to two.
ETBU had a chance in the third and fourth innings with a runner on second but Rowan's defense stopped the attack.
The Profs held off ETBU in the final two innings to take the Regional Championship, 2-0
Tiger Top Performers
Ryan Stratman
- 2 hits
- 1 stolen base
Ava Rodriguez
- 2 hits
Aleyna St. Jean
- 2 hits
Avery Holland
- 4 2/3 innings pitched
- 1 strikeout
Alexis Kemp
- 1 1/3 innings pitched
- 1 strikeout
