AUSTIN, Texas – The 20th-ranked Concordia University Texas baseball team won both ends of a doubleheader against East Texas Baptist on Saturday to complete the American Southwest Conference series sweep. The Tornados won the opener 11-1 and picked up a 7-2 win in the nightcap.
Concordia Texas (16-2, 13-1 ASC), which has won seven straight contests and sits alone atop the ASC standings, relied upon two big innings to complete the sweep.
In the opening contest, the Tornados had a 4-1 lead before busting out for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull away.
Garrett Benyo paced the Tornados in the opening game with a 2-for-3 performance that included a double, two RBIs and a stolen base.
Cole Calder and
Estevan Hernandez also registered doubles, while Calder also stole a base.
Cameron Cox (5-0) logged his fourth complete game of the season after limiting the Tigers (6-16, 3-12 ASC) to only one run on six hits. The right-hander also struck out seven and threw only 85 pitches (61 strikes).
East Texas Baptist held a 2-0 advantage in the sixth inning of the second game, but Concordia exploded for six runs in the bottom of the panel to take the lead for good. CTX added another run in the seventh to cap the scoring.
The Tornados logged nine hits in the nightcap.
Jon McManemin led the way with two singles, while Hernandez was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Calder and
Brent Schaekel each added singles and both stole a base.
Dillon Stavinoha (2-0) earned the win in relief. The southpaw hurled a pair of scoreless stanzas, allowing just a walk and fanning a hitter.
Concordia will return to action on Tuesday, March 25, as the squad is scheduled to host top-ranked Trinity. The non-conference tilt is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Tornado Field.
