Box Score
MARSHALL, Texas – Three big innings in the middle of the game undid the Louisiana College baseball team Friday night as they lost to East Texas Baptist University 13-5 in the opener of an American Southwest Conference East Division series.
The Tigers of ETBU scored three, four, and five runs in the third, fourth, and fifth inning consecutively to erase a 4-1 LC lead and break the game open. The Tigers stroked 14 hits, took five walks and only left seven runners on base.
The Wildcats jumped on starting pitcher Brandon Hillin early, scoring four runs in the top of the third inning.
Capped by a 2-run triple by second baseman Jonathan Ettinger, LC batted around in the third and chased Hillin from the game. Ettinger finished the day with two hits and two RBI, knocking in LC's final run of the game with a single in the sixth.
Hillin struggled with his control all game, particularly in the third inning. Ettinger went on to score on a wild pitch, and Hillin walked the bases loaded and issued a base on balls to Steven Davis to
bring another run in before being removed for reliever Chad Cox.
ETBU tied the score in the bottom of the inning, and took the lead when left fielder Jared Gobert uncorked a grand slam in the fourth inning.
Rattled by their suddenly large deficit, LC made two errors in the fifth inning to let two more runs score. Right fielder Tristen Cooksey homered off the scoreboard in left center field, scoring two more
Tigers and opening the lead to 13-4 before the inning was over.
Steven Bowman was on base five times for the Wildcats, who only had six hits in the ballgame. The left fielder walked twice and was hit by two pitches after doubling to left in the first inning. Bowman and
Mike Doughty were stranded on base in the opening frame, as the Wildcats would go on to leave 12 runners on the base paths.
Cox pitched six and third innings in relief for ETBU, allowing just one run on three hits to earn the victory. Starter Dustin Tubre took the loss for LC, striking out five but allowing ten runs and leaving
after pitching four plus innings.
Brett King pitched well for the Wildcats, eating up three scoreless innings in relief
