MARSHALL, Texas — Putting together a three-run third inning, No. 6 East Texas Baptist University opened the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament with a 6-3 victory over Howard Payne University. ETBU had 11 hits on the night with seven stolen bases as they won their 35
th game of the year.
Ryan Stratman led with three hits and added two stolen bases.
Ava Rodriguez contributed with two hits and drove in two runs, including a double.
Aleyna St. Jean scored twice and recorded two hits as
Makayla Menchue secured two RBIs and recorded one hit. Adding a RBI was
Piper Morton and
Emma Boren.
McKenzie Jones pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out two for the no decision.
Alexis Kemp took over and delivered a strong performance with 5 2/3 innings pitched, conceding one earned run on eight hits, while striking out one batter for the win moving to 8-3 on the year.
Howard Payne scored first in the second inning, capitalizing on a single to right field for the 1-0 lead. ETBU responded in the third inning as
Izabella Morales singled to center field and then stole second. Rodriguez doubled to left, driving in Morales. Later, Menchue hit a single to right field, scoring both
Emma Boren and Rodriguez to take the lead, 3-1.
In the fourth inning, St. Jean singled and stole second. Stratman followed with a single, advancing St. Jean to third. Rodriguez then singled to center, driving in St. Jean, extending the lead to three runs, 4–1.
ETBU added two more runs in the sixth inning. St. Jean singled and advanced to third on a bunt single by Stratman. Morton walked with the bases loaded, allowing St. Jean to score. Boren reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in Stratman to improve the lead to five, 6-1.
Howard Payne attempted a comeback in the seventh inning. An error allowed one run to score, followed by a single that drove in another run. However, the effort was not enough, as Kemp caught the final out of the game to secure the win, 6-3.
ETBU will now face No. 2 seed Hardin-Simmons on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
ETBU Top Performers >>
Ryan Stratman
- 3 hits
- 2 stolen bases
Ava Rodriguez
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 1 double
Emma Boren
- 1 hit
- 1 RBI
- 1 stolen base
Aleyna St. Jean
- 2 hits
- 2 runs
- 1 stolen base
Alexis Kemp
- 5 2/3 innings pitched
- 1 earned run
- 1 strikeout
Makayla Menchue
- 1 hit
- 2 RBIs
- 1 walk
