MARSHALL, Texas — No. 14 East Texas Baptist University is headed to the NCAA Division III Super Regional after capturing its third NCAA Regional Championship in the last four seasons with a 13-9 victory over Concordia University Texas in Marshall.
According to East Texas Baptist University, the Tigers erupted offensively with 13 hits and five home runs while the pitching staff recorded nine strikeouts in the regional championship win. ETBU improved to 36-10 on the season, the university said.
ETBU said Carter Nannini scored four runs, hit a home run, and added an RBI in the victory. Jobee Boone collected two hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs, while Justin Flannery blasted two home runs and finished with three RBIs.
The university said Kahne Nolen also homered for the Tigers, while Brody Tewers drove in four runs on two hits.
According to ETBU, Tyler Bogusz earned the start on the mound and pitched 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. Aiden Leonard, Jake Schumacher, and Conner Smeltzer combined in relief, with Smeltzer earning his third save of the season after closing out the game in the ninth inning.
Tigers built momentum
ETBU said the Tigers wasted little time building momentum. Carson Livesay scored in the opening inning before Tewers delivered a two-run single and Flannery launched a two-run homer. Nolen later added a solo shot as ETBU jumped out to a 6-1 lead after the first inning.
The Tigers extended the lead in the second inning when Tewers hit a ground-rule double to score two more runs, according to the university.
Concordia University Texas mounted a comeback attempt in the sixth inning with a five-run rally, cutting the deficit to 9-6. ETBU answered in the bottom half of the inning with another home run from Flannery before Boone added a three-run homer in the seventh inning to stretch the lead to 12-6, the university said.
Nannini added a solo home run in the eighth inning before Concordia scored three runs in the ninth inning. Smeltzer entered in relief and closed out the victory with a strikeout and flyout to secure the regional championship.
According to ETBU, the Tigers will now travel to Virginia to face No. 2 University of Lynchburg in the NCAA Division III Super Regional on Friday and Saturday.