Marshall, Texas – East Texas Baptist captured the 2026 American Southwest Conference Baseball Championship, going undefeated in the tournament to earn the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. ETBU’s Connor Smeltzer was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while teammates Tyler Bogusz, Connor Massimini, and Isaac Thornton earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Runner-up Hardin-Simmons University finished the season 26-16 overall, marking the program’s highest win total since 2016. The Cowboys were represented on the All-Tournament Team by Gavin Bruning, Hunter Trojacek, and pitcher Caleb Reynolds, who tied the program’s single-season strikeout record with 79.
Game 6 [Championship] | East Texas Baptist 5, Hardin-Simmons 3 | Box Score
East Texas Baptist captured the 2026 ASC Baseball Championship with a 5-3 victory over Hardin-Simmons on Sunday in Marshall. Hardin-Simmons struck first with two runs in the second and later tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth, but ETBU responded with timely power at the plate, using four solo home runs to secure the title.
On the mound, Conner Smeltzer was dominant in relief for the Tigers, tossing five shutout innings while striking out eight and allowing just four hits to earn the win. Hardin-Simmons collected 11 hits in the game, led by a three-hit performance from Catcher Ridings, but ETBU’s bullpen and big swings proved to be the difference.
Scoring Summary
2nd | Hardin-Simmons took an early 2-0 lead on a wild pitch that scored Paul Samaripa and an RBI single from Hunter Trojacek.
4th | ETBU answered with back-to-back home runs — a solo shot from Jobee Boone and a two-run homer from Kahne Nolen — to take a 3-2 lead.
5th | Catcher Ridings tied the game for Hardin-Simmons with an RBI single, but Joaquin Costa responded in the bottom half with a solo home run to put ETBU back in front, 4-3.
8th | Brody Tewers added insurance with a solo homer to extend the Tigers’ lead to 5-3, helping seal the championship win.
All-Tournament Team
Connor Smeltzer, ETBU, MVP
Riley Bender, UMHB
Tyler Bogusz, ETBU
Gavin Bruning, HSU
Huston Cornish, HPU
Connor Massimini, ETBU
Landon Prestage, HPU
Claeb Reynolds, HSU
Cameron Talburt, UMHB
Isaac Thornton, ETBU
Hunter Trojacek, HSU
2026 Championship Central
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