MARSHALL, Texas — No. 6 East Texas Baptist University's
Mallory Pyle sent the Tigers to the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship game with a ninth inning one-out single to left field for the walk-off victory over Hardin-Simmons, 4-3. ETBU will play in the program's 17
th ASC Tournament Championship game winning 12.
ETBU tallied 12 hits and stole six bases as four players had two hits.
Katelynn Jones,
Ryan Stratman and
Piper Morton had two hits while
Emma Boren added two hits and a RBI.
Makayla Menchue,
Ava Rodriguez, and Pyle all had one RBI.
Avery Holland delivered a complete game performance, pitching all nine innings. She allowed seven hits and three runs, with only an earned run, while striking out four batters to earn her 18
th win of the year. She retired the side in the second, third, and fifth innings
ETBU opened the game strong, scoring two runs in the first inning. Jones walked, followed by Stratman who singled.
Izabella Morales advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Rodriguez's sacrifice fly, which brought Jones home. Stratman scored on Menchue's single to left field for the 2-0 lead after the first inning.
In the fourth inning, Hardin-Simmons responded with two runs of their own. A triple to right field drove in two runs after a series of errors and strategic plays by Hardin-Simmons to the tie score at two.
Hardin-Simmons took the lead in the sixth inning on a single that led to a run scoring on a fielding error to make it 3-2.
The Tigers tied the game in the seventh inning at three as Morales singled and stole second base. She came in later on Boren's single to left field to tie the game at three.
The game remained tied through the eighth inning, leading to a decisive ninth inning. With the game on the line, Boren singled and advanced to second on
Piper Morton's single to get in scoring position. Pyle drove in the winning run with a single to left field, scoring Boren to send ETBU to the championship game.
ETBU will now face the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 1:00 p.m. for the championship.
ETBU Top Performers
Izabella Morales
- 1 hit
- 2 stolen bases
- 2 walks
Emma Boren
- 2 hits
- 1 RBI
- 1 stolen base
Avery Holland
- 9 innings pitched
- 4 strikeouts
- 1 complete game
