February 14, 2016
TENNIS: WACO, Texas (2/13/16) - Gaining the program's first-ever win over a nationally ranked team the East Texas Baptist University women's tennis team knocked off #23 the University of La Verne (Calif.), 7-2, on Saturday morning. This is the third win this year over a regionally ranked program and first vs. a top-25 team. The neutral-site match was played at the Waco Regional Tennis Center.
ETBU improves to 4-0 this season, while La Verne goes to 2-3. Entering the match, La Verne was ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 5 in the West Region, both according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings for NCAA Division III.
To open the action, ETBU moved ahead, 2-1, after claiming two-of-three doubles matches. Kate Bramlett and Kayla Casey edged Bridget Etchegaray and Savanah Goode, 8-6, in the top-seeded flight. Competing in the No. 3 flight, Jabree McClaine and Sierra Pizarro prevailed by an 8-6 score against Savannah Fisher and Areli Martinez. La Verne took the #2 doubles match, 8-2, as Tiffany Stankiewicz and Elizabeth Morton fell to Shenelle Trujillo and Janae Chin.
Later on in the singles matches, ETBU won five-of-six flights to account for the 7-2 final score. Casey defeated Etchegaray, 6-0, 6-4, in the top-seeded match, while Bramlett was a 6-1, 6-4, winner in the No. 3 flight against Janae Chinn. In the fourth-seeded match, McClaine bested Shenelle Trujillo, 6-2, 6-4, and Kellie Cawthon prevailed 6-4, 7-5, over Martinez in the No. 5 flight. Mullika Seekhieo rallied to win her six-seeded match against Fisher, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Stankiewicz went three sets at the No. 2 match but fell, 7-6, 1-6, 10-6.
ETBU plays its next match on Feb. 20, hosting the University of Texas Dallas, 2 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Tennis Complex.
#TIGERSWIN: Fourth Quarter Rally Gives ETBU Victory & ASC Tournament Berth
BASKETBALL (W): RICHARDSON, Texas (2/13/16) - Trailing by nine with five minutes to go, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team pulled off a stunning fourth quarter rally with 29 points and came away with a 61-56 victory over the University of Texas Dallas. This win puts ETBU's record at 15-9 and 8-7 in conference play and secures a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 2012-13.
With a minute and a half left in the game, Lauren Lee put in a layup to give ETBU a 50-49 lead that they would never relinquish. The next ninety seconds would seem like an eternity as ETBU and UTD would score a combined 16 points in that stretch. Only a pair of Morgan Garrett free throws would seal the comeback win.
For ETBU, Taylee Alexander and Garrett led the way in double figures with Alexander having 13 points and eight rebounds while Garrett had 11 points and four rebounds. April Leonard and Kaitlyn Packett had eight points each with Leonard having six rebounds, four assists, and four steals as well. For UTD, Micaela Gonzalez had 14 points and five rebounds while Kendall Festervand had 11.
As a team, UTD won two of the three shooting categories with 33.3% from the field while ETBU had 31.7%. From three point range, UTD made 32% while ETBU made 25%. But ETBU maintained a 85%-58.8% edge in the free throw shooting. ETBU outrebounded UTD 46-38 and won the bench scoring battle 20-16.
UTD got off to a strong start as they scored the first six points of the game before a basket by Alexander put ETBU on the board. The Tigers would cut the lead down to 9-7 when Malaisia Chisholm hit a floating jumper and Packett would hit a three-pointer. But the Comets nailed a three pointer to end the first quarter with the score 12-7 in their favor.
UTD seemed to have the momentum continue for them in the second quarter. After a Packett three pointer made it 14-10, UTD went on a 9-0 surge to up their lead to 23-10. Leonard would key a 9-0 run to cut the lead to four with five points. Delia Hopkins had four points in the run. At halftime, the score was 23-19 in UTD's favor.
At the start of the third quarter, a three by Garrett tied the score at 23. Following a pair of baskets by Alexander to keep the score tied at 27, UTD had momentum going as buckets by Gonzalez and a three by McKenzie Patty made their lead grow to 38-30. In the end, UTD had an eight point edge going into the fourth quarter at 40-32.
The two teams exchanged baskets as Woodard, Hopkins, and Packett would score for ETBU. But UTD would keep their eight point lead intact and when Nicolette Erkman hit a jumper at the 5:04 mark, UTD's lead was at 47-38. That was when the Tigers took off as they went on a 12-2 run to take the lead. It was Garrett and Alexander who would be the catalysts as Garrett hit two three's while Alexander had a jumper and two free throws to cut the lead to one. This led to a basket by Lee and a lead that ETBU would never relinquish.
ETBU will play their final home game this Thursday night against Belhaven. It will also be senior night. Tip off time is at 5:30 pm.
ETBU's Winning Streak Ends; Still Wins ASC East
BASKETBALL (M): RICHARDSON, Texas (2/13/16) - In a tight thriller from start to finish, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team dropped a 69-68 heartbreaker to the University of Texas-Dallas. This loss snapped an eleven game winning streak by ETBU and also puts their record at 19-5 and 12-3 in the conference. Despite the loss, ETBU clinched the ASC East Division championship for a second time in program history.
Trailing by four with eleven seconds to play, Bret Atkins would hit a three-pointer to put ETBU within one. With five seconds left, a steal by Junior Mitchell gave ETBU a chance to win the game but he was unable to convert as UTD hung on to the victory.
For ETBU, three players landed in double figures as Atkins led all scorers with 15 points. Jordan Quillian (eight rebounds) and Mitchell each had 14 points. Eric Horton dominated the game defensively with 14 rebounds and five blocks to go along his eight points. For UTD, Kyle Coultner had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Chase Davis and Caleb Banks had 13 points each while Ben Smith had 10 points and eight rebounds.
For the game, ETBU outshot UTD 60% to 50% from the field. UTD would outshoot them 84.6%-66.7% from three point range and 73.7% from the free throw line while ETBU had 63.6%. ETBU outrebounded them 45-42, but they had 12 assists to UTD?s 16.
The first half was a tight battle, but after a three pointer by Augustine to make it 5-2, UTD would retake the lead and go on a 17-9 run to make it 19-14. ETBU would tie the game on a three by Atkins, but the Comets would answer by grabbing the lead back. After a free throw by Jay McKnight made the score 24-23 in UTD?s favor, the Comets would finish the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 33-25 lead at the break.
The momentum for UTD continued as would extend their lead ten points in the second half at 41-31. But ETBU would claw their way back into the game as they went on a 10-4 run to make it 45-41 deficit for them. For the remainder of the game, it seemed that every time ETBU would get closer, UTD would extend the lead even more. When Quillian made a jumper at the 7:43 mark, ETBU trailed 52-50. Once again, UTD would extend the lead to seven only for Mitchell to answer with five straight points.
Atkins would hit a three and give ETBU a one point lead. The two teams would then trade leads on free throws. With a minute to go, ETBU trailed 64-62. But Smith would hit free throws that would prove to be the difference despite ETBU making one last charge.
ETBU returns home for their final home regular game of the season this Thursday night against Belhaven. It's also senior night for the seniors. Tip off time is at 7:30 pm.
#TIGERSWIN: ETBU Dominates UD
BASEBALL: IRVING, Texas (2/13/16) - Outscoring their opponents 17-4, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team went to Irving, Texas, and swept a doubleheader against the University of Dallas. ETBU demolished the Crusaders 11-3 in a seven inning contest for game one before taking game two by a final of 6-1. With the sweep, ETBU is currently 4-1 overall.
For game one, Dylan Sumpter and Mason Alredge both had two hits each while Kameron Sumrall was the top RBI man with three in the game on a home run. Kyle Loson pitched a full seven innings allowing three runs on 12 hits while striking out seven and walking a batter.
In the second game of the double header, Tyler Bates led all players with three hits in five at bats while driving in a run. Sumpter, Dynas Doud, Zach Compton, and Zach Ervin had two hits each with Ervin leading the squad with two RBIs. On the mound for ETBU, Ernest Perez pitched eight shutout innings allowing seven hits and striking out seven with a walk batter. Jimmy Russo came on to the pitch the ninth and allowed a run on two hits while striking out two.
Game 1 - ETBU 11, Dallas 3
ETBU jumped out with a five-run first inning with an RBI double by Doud and a three-run home run by Sumrall. Compton also got an RBI by reaching on an error in the first. Dallas could only muster a run in the bottom half of the first to make it 5-1. After a scoreless second, ETBU would add four runs in the top of the third on a throwing error that scored two, a balk, and a single by Sumpter. Dallas would add a run in the bottom half of the third on a throwing error by ETBU. It was 9-2 after three innings.
Dallas would add another run in the bottom of the fourth when Rene Vargas Jr. singled in Mark Peterson to make it 9-3. For innings five and six, neither team scored. But in the top of the seventh, Alredge singled and advanced to second on a throwing error that scored Brooks Lloyd. Bates then drew a bases loaded walk to make it 11-3 and that was all the damage done for the game.
Game 2 - ETBU 6, Dallas 1
Game two started as a pitcher's duel between Perez and Dallas pitcher Eric Felchak. Neither team would score in the first four innings. When the top of the fifth came, ETBU broke the shutout string by Dallas on a double by Bates to make it 1-0. One inning later, Ervin would hit a two-run double while Aldredge reached on an error that scored another run to make it 4-0 ETBU.
After a scoreless seventh, ETBU would add insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, Landen Barns hit a sacrifice fly to the first baseman that allowed Connor Combs to score. In the ninth, Bates would score a run on a single by Doud to make it 6-0. Despite giving up an RBI double, Russo shut the door to any hopes for a Dallas comeback and ETBU came away with the win.
ETBU will have their home opener this Tuesday as they play host to Jarvis Christian. First pitch will be thrown at 6:00 pm.
#TIGERSWIN: ETBU Scores 17 Runs Sweeping Belhaven
SOFTBALL: MARSHALL, Texas (2/13/16) - Sweeping Belhaven University in fashion on day two of the series, the No. 4-ranked East Texas Baptist University softball team rallied rallied for two wins, 11-1 and 7-6. ETBU improves to 2-2, while Belhaven slides to 1-2.
ETBU only allowed one run in game one as Raquel Tello earned her first win of the year and in game two Lacey Lindsey and Jayme Perez swatted the first two home runs. Lindsey finished the day four hits and six RBI including a grand slam in game two. Perez earned her first win in game two coming for relief and produced four RBI on the day. Linzie Lewis also added three RBI and three hits.
Game One: ETBU 11, Belhaven 1 (Five Innings)
After allowing a run in the top half of the first inning, ETBU scored the final 11 runs of the action en route to an 11-1 victory in the opener. Raquel Tello (1-0) pitched a five-inning complete game to earn the victory in the circle. She gave up five hits and one run, while walking three and striking out two.
ETBU scored 10 runs in the second and fourth innings combined to account for the bulk of its offensive output. In the bottom half of the second, ETBU scored three times without any base hits, breaking a 1-1 tie and pushing ahead by a 4-1 margin. Two innings later, ETBU held a 5-1 edge when it scored six runs with two outs to account for the 11-1 final score.
Lindsey Vasquez scored three times without an official at-bat to her credit, while Linzie Lewis and Jayme Perez had three RBI apiece.
Game Two: ETBU 7, Belhaven 6
Trailing by 5-3 margin in the bottom of the sixth, ETBU capitalized on a two-out grand slam off the bat of Lacey Lindsey to prevail, 7-6, and complete the doubleheader sweep. With ETBU ahead by a 7-5 margin in the top of the seventh, Belhaven plated one run and had a runner on first base with two out against ETBU reliever Perez. On a full-count pitch, Perez struck out Crystal Kehtel looking to nail down the ETBU victory.
Jade Sones started the nightcap for ETBU and did not factor in the decision. She pitched five-plus innings, allowing nine hits, five runs (three earned) and two walks. She also struck out four. In relief of Sones, Perez (1-0) earned the win after pitching the final two innings. She began game two in right field and hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to knot the game up, 3-3. Perez scored three times.
Lindsey reached base safely four times with a single, base on balls, hit by pitch and lastly her bases-loaded home run. She went 2-for-2 with four RBI.
Up next for ETBU will be the start of its American Southwest Conference schedule with a three-game series at LeTourneau (Texas) University. The series begins on Feb. 19, 6 p.m., in Longview, Texas.