MARSHALL, Texas –
Bret Leiferman went 5-for-10, recording three home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored over two games, leading the Concordia Texas baseball team to a doubleheader sweep and a series win against East Texas Baptist on Saturday.
In the first game of the afternoon, the Tornados rallied from an early-inning deficit, exploding for 13 runs on 17 hits, cruising to a 13-1 win.
After trailing 1-0 through the game's first three innings, CTX broke out the bats with a four-run fourth inning, aided by a
Dalton Watts two-run double followed by
Casen Novak knocking his third home run of the season over the left-center wall to double their lead to 4-0.
The Tornados added on a run in fifth on a
Josh Burnett RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Concordia Texas' offense could not be stopped in the following two frames, putting up four runs in back-to-back innings.
In the sixth inning, Leiferman rocketed his first home run of the season over the left field wall, scoring Novak, who reached on a fielder's choice. The inning continued with a
Grayson Lee walk and a
Jayden Hernandez single.
Mason DuBois scored Lee on an RBI double, while
Marcus Thach followed with an RBI single to make it 9-1 after six complete.
The Tornados' home-run barrage continued in the seventh as
Dalton Watts recorded his first home run at CTX with a two-run home run out to left-center, while
Leiferman went deep for the second time in as many at bats later in the inning, a solo shot. DuBois capped off the scoring with an RBI single as the Tornados ran away with it, 13-1.
Six different hitters each had at least two hits in the game, led by Leiferman's three-hit, three-RBI performance. Watts, meanwhile, drove in four and scored twice in a 2-for-4 day in the nine-hole spot. Novak, in the leadoff spot, had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs in the win.
Calvin Bush, meanwhile, allowed only three hits and a run in six innings of work. He struck out eight batters to pick up his fourth win of the season, while
Trey Toney finished off the game with a scoreless frame in the seventh.
In the series finale, Leiferman had another three-RBI game, including the go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning as the Tornados came from behind to win it 6-3.
The Tigers scored three runs in the first three innings of the game, ending
Diego Cruz-Garcia's day early and led 3-1 heading to the sixth.
In the sixth though, CTX strung together a pair of hits and tied the game up at 3-3 on
Jacob Gwynne's double down the right field line, scoring Hernandez and DuBois.
In the seventh, the Tornados' bats stayed hot as Watts led off with a single and one out later, Leiferman sent his third home run of the day over the left field wall and gave the Tornados a 5-3 advantage.
It was more than enough for
Michael Smith, who shut down the ETBU offense, allowing only two hits over six innings and struck out five, earning his third win of the year.
Leiferman's day was not finished, adding an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single up the middle, as CTX finished off the Tigers and the series with a 6-3 victory.
Leiferman finished with a pair of hits, three RBIs and a run scored, while DuBois scored twice and recorded two hits for the game.
At the conclusion of the series, Leiferman and Novak are closing in on a couple of the program's career records.
Leiferman and Novak each sit two runs scored away from breaking the career program record, held by Jesse Ayala's mark of 154 set between 1986-89.
Meanwhile, Leiferman is three doubles away from becoming the program's career doubles record holder and 11 total bases from breaking the school's total bases record, set by Scott Bradley during 1987-89.
The Tornados return home to host a round robin tournament, beginning on Friday when they play MIT at 7 p.m. at Tornado Field.
