MARSHALL, Texas — Winning their third NCAA Regional Championship in four years, No. 14 East Texas Baptist University (36-10) sprinted out of the gates from the beginning of the game to a 13-9 win over Concordia University Texas, 13-9. ETBU's offense totaled 13 hits, including five home runs, while the pitching staff recorded nine strikeouts.
Carter Nannini scored four runs and hit a home run while adding one RBI.
Jobee Boone contributed two hits, including a home run, and collected four RBIs.
Justin Flannery recorded two home runs, driving in three runs.
Kahne Nolen hit a home run, adding one RBI, as
Brody Tewers had four RBI on two hits.
Tyler Bogusz started the game for ETBU, pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs, while striking out four batters.
Aiden Leonard came in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and one earned run, with two strikeouts.
Jake Schumacher also contributed 1 1/3 innings from the mound, surrendering five hits and three earned runs, striking out one.
Conner Smeltzer closed the game effectively, recording two strikeouts in 2/3 inning, throwing only six pitches, all of which were strikes, and earning his third save of the year.
In the first inning,
Carson Livesay walked, stole second, and eventually scored on a single by Boone. Later in the inning, Tewers hit a two-RBI single, and Flannery followed with a two-run homer. Nolen added a solo home run, giving the Tigers a 6-1 lead after the first inning.
ETBU continued to build its lead in the second inning. Nannini and
Joaquin Costa each walked and advanced into scoring position before Tewers hit a ground-rule double, driving in two more runs to extend the lead to 8-1.
Concordia closed the gap in the sixth inning with a five-run rally, highlighted by a three-run homer and a two-run homer to bring the score to 9-6. ETBU responded in the bottom half with another home run by Flannery, making it 9-6 after six innings.
The seventh inning saw Boone hit a three-run homer, widening ETBU's lead to 12-6. In the eighth, Nannini hit a solo home run, increasing the lead to 13-6.
Concordia attempted a comeback in the ninth inning, with a two-run homer and an RBI single. However, Smeltzer came in for six pitches to stop the threat, recording a strikeout and a flyout to win the regional championship, 13-9.
ETBU will now face No. 2 University of Lynchburg in the Super Regional in Virginia on Friday and Saturday.
ETBU Top Performers
Carter Nannini
- 4 runs
- 1 home run
- 3 walks
Jobee Boone
- 2 runs
- 4 RBIs
- 1 home run
Justin Flannery
- 2 runs
- 3 RBIs
- 2 home runs
