MARSHALL, Texas – Exploding for six runs in the fifth inning, including a grand slam, #6 East Texas Baptist University opened up the biggest NCAA Division III series this weekend with a 12-6 victory over #14 the University of La Verne. Up 3-2 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning, ETBU unleashed for six runs to take over the close game, 9-2. ETBU added three more runs in the seventh and eighth inning for the six-run win, 12-6. They are now 10-3 on the year and now defeated two top 25 programs.
It was Jagger Neely's strong pitching performance that shut down ULV's offense that was averaging 11 runs per game. ULV scored 27 runs in their last series including a 17-run performance before coming to Texas. Neely went six innings for the win giving up just five hits, two earned runs, and struck out eight batters. Preston Crow followed for two innings with one strikeout and two earned runs and Brayden Hodges finished the ninth with one hit and two runs.
Hunter Rumachik and Justin Blancaflor each had three hits to lead the team. ETBU had five doubles and one home run. Rumachik was 3-of-3 with three runs scored, two walks and a RBI. Nicolas Chavez and Austin Barry both added two hits. Barry led the team with five RBI including a grand slam home run. Also earning a RBI was Jacob Evangelista and Blancoflor and Connor Massimini had two RBI.
ULV struck first in the bottom of the first inning for the 1-0 lead but that didn't last long. After a strikeout to start the bottom of the inning, Carson Wilson was walked, advanced to second on passed ball and made it to third on a wild pitch. Three batters later, with two outs, Massimini hit a long double off the centerfield wall for two runs as ETBU took the lead, 2-1.
The top of the fourth brought a 2-2 tie as ULV scored with two outs. Once again, ETBU retook the lead in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Blancoflor ripped a double down the left field line that scored Rumachik from first base as ETBU went back up, 3-2. Neely retired the ULV side in the top of fifth inning and then ETBU blew the game open in the bottom of the inning with six runs.
Brett Wagner was the first of six runs to come in as a throwing error by the catcher allowed him to scoot in from third base making it 4-2. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Barry as he faced a new pitcher. It didn't take long for Barry to break open the game as on the second pitch he went deep to left field for a grand slam and 8-2 lead. Three batters later, Evangelista singled through the left side as Blancaflor was the sixth run of the inning for the 9-2 lead.
ULV added one run in the top of the seventh but ETBU made it 11-3 in the bottom of the inning with two more runs. Barry doubled in Rumachik for the 10th run of the game and Evangelista hit into a double play as Barry scored for the 11-3 lead. ULV picked up a run in the eighth and Rumachik doubled in Chavez for an eight-run lead, 12-4. A two-out error in the top of ninth allowed two ULV runs to come in making it 12-6 for the final score.
ETBU will host a double header on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to finish out the series.