LYNCHBURG, Va. — Three home runs in the eighth inning by No. 11 East Texas Baptist University (38-11) propelled the Tigers to NCAA Division III Lynchburg Super Regional Championship over No. 2 University of Lynchburg (40-8-1), 6-2.
Connor Massimini,
Justin Flannery, and
Kahne Nolen all had clutch home runs to propel ETBU to their second Super Regional Championship in four years and a trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament in Eastlake, Ohio.
Clutch pitching from both
Tyler Bogusz and Conner Smelter held the potent Lynchburg offense to two runs and six total hits.
East Tex. Baptist University (37-11) secured a decisive 6–2 victory over the University of Lynchburg (40-7-1) on Sunday at Worthington Field, highlighted by three home runs and a five-run eighth inning.
Massimini had a solo home run for one RBI to tie the game. Flannery recorded two hits, including a three-run home run for three RBI.
Kahne Nolen added two hits, including a solo home run, and tallied one RBI.
Carter Nannini recorded two hits and scored once as
Carson Livesay,
Joaquin Costa, and
Brody Tewers both had a hit
Tyler Bogusz pitched 4 1/3 innings for the Tigers, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out four batters. Smeltzer relieved Bogusz, throwing 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and allowing two hits and secured his fifth win of the season. He struck out two in the ninth inning and had as strikeout in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
After two scoreless innings, Lynchburg took the lead with a solo homer from Kyle Moshier, putting them ahead 1–0 in the third. They extended its lead in the fifth inning when Benton Jones doubled to drive in Moshier, making it 2–0.
ETBU responded in the seventh inning when Tewers scored an unearned run on a passed ball, cutting the deficit to 2–1. The eighth inning saw a significant shift as the Tigers' offense erupted. Massimini led off with a solo home run, tying the game at two. Five batters later, with two outs, Flannery smacked a three-run homer, followed by a solo shot from Nolen putting ETBU up, 6-2 at the top of the eighth.
Atter a walk to start the bottom of the eighth inning, Smelter retired the side with a long fly out and two pop ups. In the ninth, he struck out the first two batters before Lynchburg put two on with two outs. With a 2-1 count, the final out came as a pop up to
Juan Ortigoza at second base as ETBU sealed their trip to Ohio.
ETBU will now wait and see where they will be seeded in the eight team NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
ETBU Top Performers
Connor Massimini
- 1 home run
- 1 hit
- 1 RBI
Justin Flannery
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
- 1 stolen base
Kahne Nolen
- 1 home run
- 2 hits
- 1 RBI
Conner Smeltzer
- 4 2/3 innings pitched
- 5 strikeouts
- 2 hits allowed
