MARSHALL, Texas - Creating moments to remember for the rest of their lives, no. 1 East Texas Baptist University came-from-behind scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning claiming the NCAA Marshall, Texas Regional Championship, 7-6, over the University of St. Thomas. ETBU has now won back-to-back Regional Championships and advancing to the program's fourth Super Regional. It is the seventh comeback win in the last three weeks for ETBU.
Emma Bell took a 1-2 count with one out and lined into right centerfield scoring Izabella Morales from second base for the walk-off win. Two batters prior, Tristen Maddox hit a cannon shot over the lights in left field to tie the game at six.
Maddox had a home run and two RBIs as Bell led the team with three hits, two runs scored, with one RBI and a double. Ava Rodriguez drove in three runs with a home run and Tauryn Cummings added a hit and one run. Mallory Pyle provided two hits.
Avery Holland started the game, pitching 2 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs, with two earned runs, while striking out one batter and not issuing any walks. Hannah Benavides came in relief, pitching 2 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs, while striking out one. McKenzie Jones closed the game with two innings pitched, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out one, and not giving up any runs.
ETBU took an early lead in the first inning when Bell singled down the left field line and was driven in by Cummings' RBI single to right center, making it 1-0. In the third inning, after St. Thomas scored three runs to take the lead, ETBU responded with a three-run homer from Rodriguez, scoring Cummings and Bell, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of the Tigers.
St. Thomas (Tex.) regained momentum in the fifth inning, adding three runs with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly, pushing them ahead 6-4. ETBU halted further scoring opportunities for St. Thomas (Tex.) in the sixth and seventh innings after Jones came in and shut down the Celts. In the top of the seventh with one out, Mary Frances Ellis caught a short fly ball to center field and turned a double play to Bell at second base to get out of the inning and end St. Thomas' momentum.
In the bottom of the seventh, ETBU capitalized again as Maddox hit a two-run homer to left field, scoring Jones and tying the game. Morales then walked, stole second, and scored on Bell's RBI double, giving ETBU the walk-off win.
East Tex. Baptist Top Performers
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Tristen Maddox
- 2 RBIs
- 1 home run
- OPS of 1.250
Emma Bell
- 2 runs scored
- 3 hits
- 1 double
Ava Rodriguez
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
- OPS of 1.667
Mallory Pyle
- 2 hits
McKenzie Jones
- 2 innings pitched
- 1 hit
- 0 runs scored