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BASEBALL
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Behind a four-hit, four RBI performance by senior first baseman Gonzalo Sosa, the LeTourneau University baseball team bounced back in a big way to defeat Hardin-Simmons University by a final score of 8-4 at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, TX on Sunday, February 11.
With opening weekend complete, LeTourneau improves to 2-1 overall with the win as today’s game was a non-conference game against the Cowboys. HSU falls to 1-2 with the loss with all three games coming at the Rusty Greer/Jackie Moore Collegiate Classic.
Outside of a three-run first inning and a single run in the bottom of the seventh, the YellowJacket pitching staff limited Hardin-Simmons to just five hits spread out through the other seven innings while collecting eight hits of their own and taking advantage of two HSU errors.
LETU would have a chance to jump out to an early lead in the top of the first but would strand two runners as HSU would escape the inning unscathed. The Cowboys would make the most of their first opportunity at the plate, with the first three batters in the bottom of the first reaching base safely which included a double down the left field line by three-hole hitter Taylor Cooling. Following an RBI groundout and sacrifice fly, the YellowJackets would be able to get out of the inning without any more damage done despite a throwing error allowing another Cowboy runner to reach base.
A one-two-three top of the second saw LeTourneau unable to respond from the three-run first that HSU put up, but would hold Hardin-Simmons scoreless in the bottom of the second to keep the deficit at three with the top of the lineup due up in the third. Nine-hole hitter Josh Raies would lead off the inning with a single and advance to second on a wild pitch before fellow senior Carson Dickey moved him over to third on a groundout. Sosa then collected his second single of the afternoon to drive in Raies before Bubba Valdez flew out to center field to leave LETU with a runner on first and two outs in the inning. A throwing error allowed for Sosa to come around all the way from first and score to make the score 3-2 in favor of Hardin-Simmons, but that would be all that LeTourneau could get in the inning.
Starting pitcher Luke Ludwig would work around a pair of walks in the bottom of the third to keep the deficit at one and momentum building in favor of LeTourneau for the middle innings. Raies would drive home Will Bradshaw who led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a groundout and wild pitch which tied the game at three before seeing Dickey walk to put a runner on with two outs in the inning. Sosa kept his hot bat going by hitting a double down the line that would score Dickey but would be thrown out at third to end the inning with LETU on top 4-3.
Things would quiet down until the bottom of the fifth when HSU would threaten to re-take the lead by putting runners on first and second with a pair of two-out singles, but a groundout to Sosa would end the inning and keep the YellowJackets up one run.
The top of the sixth inning is where LeTourneau would break the game open, scoring four runs on two hits while taking advantage of two walks, a wild pitch, and a passed ball as Sosa would hit a two-RBI triple on his fourth hit of the game. The passed ball allowed for Sosa to come home and make the score 8-3 before the Cowboys would manage to get out of the inning while facing a five-run deficit.
Only one more run in the game scored as HSU used a one-out walk, wild pitch and a throwing error to cut the LeTourneau lead to 8-4 heading into the final two innings of play. A chance to run away with things would present itself in the top of the eighth for LETU as the YellowJackets would load the bases with just one out, but a pitching change allowed for Hardin-Simmons to get a strikeout and groundout to end the threat. No real opportunity presented itself for the Cowboys to mount a comeback in the final two innings as HSU would only record one hit in the last six at-bats.
Ludwig would pick up the pitching victory after throwing five complete innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five on 88 pitches before making way for Ryder Lognion to earn his second relief appearance of the weekend. Lognion tossed three innings and only allowed one run on two hits before Andrew Harlan threw a scoreless ninth.
Bradshaw added a pair of hits to give LETU two players with multiple hits in the game while Dickey drew three free passes. LeTourneau drew eight total walks in the game and had two extra-base hits compared to only one for the Cowboys.
The 2018 home opener for the YellowJackets will take place on Friday, February 16, as LETU will host Centenary College at 6:00 p.m.
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
NORMAN, Okla. – Freshman Alex Hindman would be part of a trio for the LeTourneau University men’s track, and field team. The group would snag three of the top-five spots in the pole vault as the YellowJackets earned seven top-10 finishes on the day at the University of Central Oklahoma Open at the Oklahoma-Mosier Indoor Track on Saturday, February 10.
The meet did not keep team scores.
“Overall we had a good day today,” said head coach Don Hood in a post-meet interview. “I was very pleased with the improvement I saw in every area of our team.” “Our distance runners made huge gains today, and our field event crew was much better.” We are going to be a very competitive team moving forward, and it was a fun meet to watch.” “Our athletes competed well and placed well, so I think we’ll more and more of this as the year goes by.”
Hindman led all athletes in the pole vault, winning the event with a mark of 4.60 meters (15 ft. – 1 in.) which also set a new school record. Austin Parrish finished directly behind him with 4.45 meters (14 ft. – 7.25 in.) while Cole Ironside picked up a fifth-place finish with a mark of 4.05 meters (13 ft.- 3.5 in.)
Sophomore Nate Berlandier added a fourth-place finish in the triple jump after finishing with a mark of 12.15 meters (39 ft. – 10.5 in.) while Stanley Williams came away with a sixth-place finish in the long jump (5.94 m, 19 ft. – 6 in.). Rounding out the top-10 finishes for the YellowJackets were Arvin Hrushka(9.76) and Derek Byler (10.35) in the 60-meter hurdles as Hrushka took home seventh and Byler ninth.
Just outside the top-10 was Hrushka in the shot put (10.48 m, 34 ft. – 4.75 in.), and Adrik Kling in the weight throw (9.91 m, 32 ft. – 6.25 in.). Both athletes finished 11th in their event while Austin Coblentz took home 12th in the 3,000 meters (10:22.15). Lorien Nightingale also took home 12th with a time of 2:10.46 in the 800 meters while Hrushka (2:12.41), Nathan Glastetter (2:12.64) and Daniel Bucher (2:15.35) also ran in the event. Glastetter (4:57.11) and Nightingale (4:51.93) joined junior Michael Field (4:44.63) with Field setting a new school-record in the event while finishing 13th. LeTourneau would also have Collin Olson compete in the 60 meters (7.87) and 200 meters (26.18).
One final chance to set national qualifying marks will be in store for LETU next Saturday, February 17 when the YellowJackets take a limited squad to the Texas A&M Twilight meet in College Station, TX.
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
NORMAN, Okla. – A third-place finish by LeTourneau University women’s track and field sophomore Alexis Segura in the mile run would lead the YellowJackets as part of seven top-10 finishes at the University of Central Oklahoma Indoor Open held at the Oklahoma-Mosier Indoor Track on Saturday, February 10.
No team scores would be kept in the meet.
“Overall we had a good day today,” said head coach Don Hood in a post-meet interview. “I was very pleased with the improvement I saw in every area of our team.” “Our distance runners made huge gains today, and our field event crew was much better.” We are going to be a very competitive team moving forward, and it was a fun meet to watch.” “Our athletes competed well and placed well, so I think we’ll more and more of this as the year goes by.”
Segura picked up the third-place finish by finishing with a time of 5:29.95 which would smash her old record of 5:45.42 set last week at the Texas Tech Open. The YellowJackets would also get a seventh-place finish from Ro Galloway in the 200 meters with a time of 27.55 while Claire Burson earned ninth-place finishes in the long jump (4.29 m, 14 ft. – 1 in.) and 400 meters (1:07.33). Galloway would add a 10th place finish right behind Burson in the long jump (4.16 m, 13 ft. – 7.75 in.) while Lexi Funk finished 10th in the 400 meters directly behind Burson (1:08.83).
Kirstiana Welch (12th, 5:57.43), Bridey Davis (18th, 6:40.59) and Allison Fuller (19th, 6:45.34) all ran in the mile run with Segura Galloway just missed out on a new school record in the 60 meters by finishing with a time of 8.36. Rebekah Stevenson competed in both the weight throw (9.08 m, 29 ft. – 9.5 in.) and shot put (7.78 m, 25 ft. – 6.25 in.) while Carrye Funk recorded a mark of 8.03 meters (26 ft. – 4.25 in.) in the weight throw.
Only one more meet remains for LeTourneau in the indoor season as the YellowJackets will send a limited squad to the Texas A&M Twilight Meet in College Station, Texas on Saturday, February 17. The meet will serve as the conclusion of the inaugural indoor season for LETU before the start of the outdoor season on February 24.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
LONGVIEW, Texas – For one final time during the 2017-18 season, the LeTourneau University men’s basketball team put on a show for the home crowd and breezed to a 118-81 victory over an overmatched Belhaven University squad inside of Solheim Arena on Saturday, February 10.
The win marks LETU’s 20th victory to move to 20-3 overall and 14-2 in the American Southwest Conference while the Blazers fell to 4-19 overall and 2-14 in the ASC.
“This is a special group of young men,” said head coach Dan Miller in a post-game interview. “They get more excited when one of their teammates does well, and it was great to feel the togetherness and support for the seniors.” “All five of the seniors played a great game and demonstrated excellent leadership tonight.” “They are such great examples of the YellowJacket way, and so important to our program’s success!” “It was truly a great night at Solheim Arena, but now we have to focus and get ready to be road warriors.”
Scoring almost at will, LeTourneau finished the game 43-for-74 (58.1 percent) and hit 13-of-26 (50 percent) of their three points attempts in the game. A plus 14 advantage on the rebounding tally (45-31) would be coupled with a 58-14 advantage in points in the paint as the YellowJackets led by as many as 40 in the game.
All five seniors for LETU finished in double-figures with Caylab Herrera leading the way with 26 points and two blocks. Justin Eadeh finished with a career-high 15 points and hauled in 12 rebounds while Alec Colhoff and Sam Talbert each had 13 points. Cordele Jackson rounded out the group with 11 points and one assist to go with one block while freshman Javaughn Dantzler joined the five of them with 10 points. Belhaven found themselves with five players in double-figures led by Terik Richardson with 16 points.
The three ball was working early for the YellowJackets, hitting five treys in the first six minutes of action to race out to a 19-6 lead with Belhaven having no answer for the five senior starters. LeTourneau’s lead would grow to 15 at the 10:04 mark in the first half following a Christian Seidl layup from Justin Moore before Nate West added a layup as LETU would go up 29-12 heading into the final nine minutes of the opening period. The lead would grow to 20 on a pair of Colhoff free throws with 5:27 remaining in the first half as LeTourneau opened up a 29-point lead and led by 26 at intermission after scoring 53 points in the opening frame.
A statement would be made to open the second half with the lead growing to 72-32 with 15:57 left in the game after a Herrera layup with LETU in full control and well on their way to victory. Belhaven would use an 11-2 run over a span of 1:53 to get the YellowJacket lead down to 79-49, but it would get pushed right back out to 89-51 with 10:45 remaining as Seth Mattson would drain a three off a pass from Dantzler.
LeTourneau would then get fresh legs in the game to start preparations for a quick turnaround next week as the 100-point barrier would break with 5:44 remaining in the game on a Talbert layup before head coach Dan Miller would allow for each senior to get their curtain call in the final minutes. The YellowJacket lead would never dip below 27 in the second half, with LETU nearly matching their largest lead of the game in the last minute while scoring a season-high in points.
An all-important showdown that will likely decide the American Southwest Conference East Division is in store on Monday evening when the YellowJackets make the trip down Highway 80 to renew their annual rivalry with East Texas Baptist University. Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m. with LETU needing a win to keep the Tigers from holding the season tiebreaker. As things currently stand, LeTourneau is one game up on ETBU in the conference standings.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
LONGVIEW, Texas – On a day in which senior Savannah Cummings played her final game inside of Solheim Arena, the LeTourneau University women’s basketball team would build a 14-point third quarter lead and never trail in a 62-55 win over Belhaven University inside of Solheim Arena on Saturday, February 10.
LETU picks up their fifth win of the year to move to 5-18 overall and 2-14 in the American Southwest Conference while the Blazers fell to 3-20 overall and 3-13 in the ASC.
It would take overcoming a poor shooting effort to get the victory as the YellowJackets shot just 19-of-69 (27.5 percent) from the field, but hit six three’s and had an 18-for-23 (78.3 percent) performance from the charity stripe to make up for it. Belhaven would utilize the paint, outscoring LeTourneau 30-16, but could not overcome a 50-35 advantage on the glass for LETU.
Cummings would record one of two double-doubles by LeTourneau players on the day, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds while sophomore Alexandria Thornehad 13 points and ten rebounds. Junior Jaila Leaven led all players with 20 points in the game and had eight rebounds to go with three assists.
The YellowJackets led from the get-go, scoring the first seven points of the game while holding BU scoreless for the opening 3:22 of the game before a Kelsey Brown triple put the score at 7-4 in favor of LETU. A pair of Leaven free throws brought the score to 9-3 heading into the back end of the first quarter as six of the next eight points would be scored by LeTourneau to open up a 15-5 lead with 2:36 left in the quarter. Belhaven would get a pair of buckets in the final minutes of the quarter but would see Ashley Reed send in a three to offset the scoring as the YellowJackets doubled up the Blazers 18-9 after one.
Scoring would be an issue for both squads to open up the second quarter as a total of just seven points would be scored in the opening five minutes of the quarter which would see LeTourneau hold a 21-13 lead with under five minutes left in the first half. Each team would then go on a 5-0 run to keep the YellowJacket lead at eight before the Blazers would close the gap to 28-25 at intermission with Aaliyaha Thornton scoring the final four points of the half for Belhaven.
The Blazers would pull within one on the opening basket of the second half with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter, but Reed would come through for LETU with another three before Thorne and Leaven each hit shots to spark a 9-0 YellowJacket run to get the lead back to double-digits. With the LETU lead still at 10 points heading into the final minutes of the third quarter, LeTourneau would get buckets from Cummings and Keauna Whitfield to extend the lead to 14 points and appear to be pulling away from the Blazers. It would be Belhaven however that would close out the quarter strong by scoring seven of the final eight points to close the gap to 46-38 in favor of LETU heading to the fourth.
LeTourneau would have to fend off multiple Belhaven challenges in the fourth quarter as the lead would never grow to more than nine in the final period of play with managing to tie the game at 52-52 with 4:52 remaining. Five straight points for the YellowJackets would put an end to the Blazer threat as Belhaven would score just one point over the next 4:46 before adding a final jumper in the closing seconds with the outcome already decided as LETU would claim the seven-point victory.
The final week of the season for the YellowJackets will come on the road as LeTourneau will head down Highway 80 on Monday evening to take on the Tigers of East Texas Baptist University at 5:30 p.m. in what will be the first of two games next week. LETU will close out the season at Texas-Dallas on Thursday evening with tip-off also scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
KERRVILLE, Texas – After giving up an early lead in game one that would wind up holding, the LeTourneau University softball team would flip the script on host Schreiner University in game two as the YellowJackets lost and won by a score of 5-3 to split their season opener on Saturday, February 10.
LETU is now 1-1 overall to start the 2018 campaign while the Mountaineers picked up their second win of the year to improve to 2-1-1 overall.
In game one, the YellowJackets would find trouble with the offense, recording just two hits in the first four innings of the game. Schreiner University made the most of their first offensive opportunity in the game, collecting back-to-back singles to open things up before an error and double made the score 3-0 with no outs in the bottom of the first. LETU would bounce back and retire the next three batters in order, with one more run coming across for SU on a sacrifice fly.
A solo home run for Schreiner to lead off the bottom of the second put the LeTourneau hole at 5-0 as the YellowJackets would manage to get out of the inning by stranding two runners on base but still face a tall task with SU starting pitcher Hannah Ortiz facing little trouble in the early going. LETU would finally wake the bats in the top of the sixth with a Jacie Gilbert double leading things off before pinch-hitter Katelyn Trombley drove in Gilbert with a double to make the score 5-1 and a runner on second with no outs. Ethel Warren would drive in Trombley on a one-out single, and a Shelby Barrick double would make the score 5-3 with Schreiner still on top, but an inning-ending double play ended the YellowJacket threat and kept the deficit at two.
Schreiner would again threaten in the bottom of the sixth by putting two runners on with two outs, but LeTourneau would be able to get out of the jam and head to the seventh needing two runs. A leadoff walk by Julie Martinez allowed for the game-tying batter to come to the plate for LETU, but a double-play and pop out would end the game as the early hole proved to be too much.
Ashley Burdine took the pitching loss for LeTourneau, throwing a complete game and forcing 11 flyouts to go with seven groundouts. All eight LeTourneau hits would come from different batters with Barrick, Gilbert, and Trombley collecting the extra-base hits.
Game two would be a complete opposite of game one as it would be LeTourneau jumping out to the early lead before fending off a late charge by the Mountaineers. A Macey Mize double would be followed up by a Trombley two-out double to bring in the first run of the game before two wild pitches put runners on second and third for MacKenzie. The sophomore would be able to find a hole in the SU defense and collect a two-RBI single which would make the score 4-0 in favor of LeTourneau after half an inning of play. LETU would hold Schreiner scoreless in the bottom half of the inning and add a Roach solo home run in the second to make the score 5-0 in favor of the YellowJackets before the two teams would settle in defensively and see the next three and a half innings go scoreless.
In the bottom of the sixth, Schreiner would hit back-to-back two-out doubles to drive in their first run of the game, but it would be all that the Mountaineers could muster in the inning as a pop up with two runners on ended the threat and kept the LeTourneau lead at four heading to the seventh. LETU would threaten with a runner in scoring position in the seventh before seeing Schreiner get out of the inning on a strikeout when things would get interesting for the YellowJackets.
A one-out error allowed for the Mountaineers to put a runner on which would be followed up by a pinch-hit single to put runners on the corners with just one out. A hit and delayed steal brought home two more runs, but more importantly, provided a second out for LeTourneau before a pop up to the shortstop ended the game with the YellowJackets holding on.
Faith Genoway notched the win in game two, tossing a complete game and striking out two while allowing just five hits in the game. Trombley would be the big bat for LeTourneau in game two, providing two hits and driving in a run while also scoring a run with Roach scoring twice while collecting the YellowJackets first homer of the year.
American Southwest Conference Action starts up next Saturday for LeTourneau, with the YellowJackets heading to Belton, Texas to take on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for a three-game series. Game one will take place on Friday, February 16th with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
BASEBALL
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – A three-run third inning for the LeTourneau University baseball team would be negated by a seven-run fourth and five-run fifth in a 14-5 loss to Texas Lutheran University at the Rusty Greer/Jackie Moore Classic at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, TX on Saturday, February 10.
The loss puts LETU at 1-1 this season with both games coming in Grand Prairie while the Bulldogs improved to 5-0 with the win.
Cold and windy conditions made for issues throughout the game as both teams combined for a total of 12 errors while collecting a total of 14 hits in the game. TLU would jump out to a 2-0 lead after half an inning of play as a one-out single, and a walk gave the Bulldogs two runners on bases. A wild pitch moved both runners over before which would be followed up by a sacrifice fly and fielding error before a groundout ended the inning.
Things would stay at 2-0 in favor of Texas Lutheran until the bottom of the third inning when the YellowJackets collected three hits and used two TLU errors to plate three runs and take their first and only lead of the game. Brandon Ramirez would lead off the inning with a double which would be followed up by an Eli Birriel one-out single. A double-steal allowed for Birriel to take second and Ramirez to come home and get LeTourneau on the board and cut into the Bulldog lead. A throwing error and Bubba Valdez single to center brought home two more runs before the inning would end with a Gonzalo Sosa groundout.
The wheels would come off the wagon for LETU in the top of the fourth as TLU would take advantage of two hit batsmen and three free passes issued by the YellowJacket pitching staff, adding in a pair of hits while bringing across seven runs in the inning (four unearned). With the momentum swung back into the favor of TLU, LeTourneau would only get one baserunner in their half of the fourth before seeing things go from bad to worse as two hits and two errors in the top half of the fifth would lead to five more Texas Lutheran runs.
LETU would add a run in the sixth inning as a Noah Mahoney one-out double and two out throwing error brought the junior around to score, but more would be needed for LETU to get back into the game. The only other run of the game would come in the bottom of the ninth inning with a pair of TLU errors allowing for Ramirez to reach base before coming around to score with two outs.
Birriel and Valdez would be the LeTourneau leaders at the plate with each collecting two hits while Valdez drove in LETU’s only RBI of the game. Mahoney and Ramirez each had an extra-base hit in the game despite seeing the YellowJackets strike out ten times.
Bryce Brueggemeyer would take the pitching decision in the game, falling to 0-1 after throwing 3.1 innings and allowing seven runs (four earned) on two hits and walking two. Kolton Eberlan pitched one inning of work for LETU with Kolbey Sharpe (0.1 innings) and Nate Hoelker (4.1 innings) also seeing work on the mound.
Tomorrow will feature an afternoon game for the YellowJackets with a non-conference match against Hardin-Simmons University closing out the Rusty Greer/Jackie Moore Classic in Grand Prairie. Hardin-Simmons will provide a live stats feed, which is on the LETU website in the morning.
BASEBALL
An eight-run eighth inning rally would give the LeTourneau University baseball team a season-opening come-from-behind 10-9 victory over Willamette University at Air Hogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas on Friday, February 9.
The season-opening win moves LETU to 1-0 overall. It is the first win of the opening weekend at Jackie Moore/Rusty Greer Classic in Grand Prairie. Willamette moves to 2-4 overall on the season after going 0-2 on the day with a pair of one-run losses.
We showed a lot of perseverance tonight, but it all started with Andrew Harlan battling three more innings after a bad first inning” said head coach Robin Harriss in a post-game interview. “When Ryder Lognion came in and threw three competitive innings, it gave us confidence every time we put a zero up on the board. “Through the sixth and seventh inning we had hit some balls hard, and we just needed something to fall.” “Our guys competed at the end, and that’s when it counts and when it matters.”
A nightmare of a start to the game saw the Bearcats jump out to a 6-0 lead after one inning of play on the YellowJackets as WU sent ten batters to the plate and collected six hits off of LETU starter Andrew Harlan. The first three batters of the game would reach base for Willamette before a sacrifice fly drove in the first run of the game before a single and balk added a second runner and put runners on second and third with one out. An RBI groundout and a single made the score 4-0 in favor of the Bearcats before a triple on a 0-1 count added two more runs to cap off the six-hit inning.
Unfazed, LeTourneau YellowJackets responded with a run of their own as Eli Birriel, and Will Bradshaw would both reach base safely to put two runners on with no outs before a pair of fielder’s choices moved Bradshaw to third. Bubba Valdez would then get into a delayed steal to allow Bradshaw to score to make the score 6-1 after one inning of play.
Willamette responded with another run in the second inning thanks in part to two hits but would strand a runner on second before both teams pitching staffs would get into a groove and allow for the next four and a half innings to go scoreless. The Bearcats would threaten on multiple opportunities but would be left stranded while the YellowJackets were making good contact off the WU pitchers but could not find an opening in the defense.
Willamette would add a run in the top of the seventh to take an 8-1 lead as a one-out walk and sacrifice bunt allowed for an RBI single to put the Bearcat lead at seven heading to the seventh-inning stretch. Chasing runs for most of the night, LETU took advantage of a new reliever for WU by having Gonzalo Sosa and Noah Mahoney lead off the inning with back to back singles before an RBI groundout by Bryce Brueggemeyer put the score at 8-2 in favor of the Bearcats.
It was a 1-2-3 top half of the eighth giving LETU more momentum in the dugout, knowing that they were down to just six outs to make a comeback happen when the bats would finally start to come alive and find holes in the Willamette defensive setup. Following a Bradshaw strikeout, senior Carson Dickey would reach on a walk before a single and fielding error would load the bases with just one out and bring up last year’s best hitter for the YellowJackets in Sosa. Sosa hit an RBI single to left field and would see the left fielder misplay the ball to bring in two more runs and put himself on second with still just one out in the inning. Following a Mahoney Walk and Brueggemeyer single to make the score 8-6, Willamette would make another pitching change which would last all of two batters. Chaz Jackson would pull LETU within one off an RBI double to left field, and a four-pitch walk would force another pitching change before a wild pitch tied the game at 8-8. Dickey then broke the deadlock with a two-RBI single to left field with two outs and gave LeTourneau their first lead of the night.
Willamette would threaten in the top of the ninth, collecting an inside the park home run from the first batter of the inning before Koltan Eberlan would slam the door on the next three batters to end the game.
Eberlan picked up the save on the night after coming on in the ninth inning while sophomore Haden Simmons earned the decision after throwing one scoreless inning. LETU used four pitchers in the game, with Harlan (4.0 innings) and Ryder Lognion (3.0 innings) also making an appearance.
Dickey’s two-RBI single would be his only hit of the night, but it would be the biggest of the evening with the runs ultimately being the difference in the game. Sosa led the YellowJacekts with two hits and a walk while Brueggemeyer also collected two RBI’s.
LeTourneau will be back in action at Air Hogs Stadium tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when the YellowJackets take on Texas Lutheran University.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PINEVILLE, La. – Trailing for a total of one minute, 15 seconds, the LeTourneau University men’s basketball team held off a scrappy Louisiana College team to come away with a 95-75 victory at the H.O. West Field House in Pineville, Louisiana on Thursday, February 8.
LeTourneau picked up their seventh straight win to improve to 19-3 overall and 13-2 in the American Southwest Conference while the Wildcats fell to 5-15 overall and 3-12 in the ASC.
“I am extremely proud of the guys for their focus on the road again tonight,” said head coach Dan Miller in a post-game interview. “Besides a brief run by Louisiana College in the second half, they showed focus for two halves tonight.” “We need to be a 40-minute team to accomplish our goals, and tonight we demonstrated that.”
Most of the damage for the YellowJackets would be done from beyond the arc as LETU outshot LC 11-5 from three in addition to holding a 19-10 advantage in points off turnovers. A tight rebounding battle saw LeTourneau hold a 39-37 lead on the glass, in addition to shooting 47.2 percent (34-for-72) from the field. Louisiana College could not overcome a 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) shooting percentage in the first half, finishing 27-for-63 (42.9 percent) from the floor.
LeTourneau used a balanced effort to pick up the victory, with sophomore Nate West leading the charge with 22 points and eight rebounds to go along with two assists in 38 minutes of action. Senior Alec Colhoff and junior Christian Seidl each pitched in 14 points while Caleb Loggins did a little bit of everything throughout the game (19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block). Louisiana College got a good chunk of their scoring from starter Devon Washington, who finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds.
A chance to close out the 2017-18 home schedule 8-1 is on the table for LETU on Saturday. That is when the YellowJackets play host to Belhaven University at 4:00 p.m. Before the game they will honor five seniors, with the game being the last time that they will put on a LeTourneau uniform inside of Solheim Arena.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
PINEVILLE, LA. – A strong defensive effort in the first half would give the LeTourneau University women’s basketball team a four-point halftime lead before seeing host Louisiana College shoot over 50 percent from the floor in the second half to down the YellowJackets by a final score of 77-62 at the H.O. West Field House in Pineville, LA on Thursday, February 8.
LETU is now 4-18 overall and 1-14 in the American Southwest Conference while the Wildcats picked up their 12th win of the year to improve to 12-9 overall and 8-7 in the ASC.
“Tonight was a night where we got in foul trouble early, and that hurt us later in the game,” said head coach Cassi Rozanski in a post-game interview. “Louisiana College has a great inside game that we could not stop due to the early foul trouble.” “Our energy was not as good as some of our previous games, and we couldn’t capitalize when we had the lead which led to the outcome we saw.”
It would be a tale of two halves on the offensive side of things for the YellowJackets as LeTourneau shot 19-of-53 (35.8 percent) in the game after starting out 10-for-22 (45.5 percent) in the first half. Rebounding would be a key in the LC victory as LETU would be outrebounded 44-34 while also seeing the Wildcats hold 40-14 points in the paint advantage.
The offense would be spread out among players for LeTourneau, with freshman Keauna Whitfield leading the charge with 15 points and eight rebounds. Ashley Reed scored 12 of her 14 points from beyond the arc, going four-for-eight from three while sophomore Alexandria Thorne had 12 points and one steal. Louisiana College had four players in double-figures, led by a game-high 19 points from Brooke Jones.
It would be nip and tuck from the start with neither team able to open up a lead of more than two in the opening minutes of the game as three lead changes occurred before a Reed triple allowed LeTourneau to open up a 12-7 lead with 5:59 remaining in the first quarter. The YellowJacket lead would then grow to eight following a bucket by Thorne and a pair of Whitfield free throws with the LETU offense firing on all cylinders. Reed gave LeTourneau their largest lead of the game at 19-8 with her second triple of the game, but it would be all that LETU would be able to muster as the Wildcats would hold the YellowJackets scoreless in the final 3:15 of the period to pull back within two at 19-17.
A Whitfield triple to open up the second quarter gave LETU some more breathing room at 22-17 before the LeTourneau defense cracked down to keep LC off the scoreboard for the opening 3:07 of the quarter. The YellowJackets followed up their defensive stand with a 7-2 run to go up 29-22 with 2:45 remaining in the first half, using the charity stripe to their advantage by hitting nine free throws in the period. Just like the first quarter, however, it would be a durable finish by Louisiana College with the Wildcats scoring five of the final six points of the half to cut the LeTourneau lead down to 35-31 at the break after seeing the YellowJackets have one of their best defensive halves of the year.
LETU held LC off for the opening five minutes of the second half, clinging onto their single-digit lead before seeing the Wildcats use a three-point play to tie the game at 40-40 with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter. Louisiana College would then take their first lead since the opening minute of the game and score five of the next seven points before Reed knotted the game at 45-45 with a three. Only three more points would be all that would be scored by LETU in the quarter as offensive struggles, and the turnover bug would find the YellowJackets which would allow for the Wildcats to open up a 55-48 lead heading to the fourth.
Offensive woes continued in the fourth quarter for LETU, as Louisiana College opened up the fourth quarter on an 18-0 run to open up a commanding 73-48 lead. LeTourneau wouldn’t give up despite the deficit, responding with an 11-2 run that pulled the YellowJackets within 16 at 75-59, but it would be too little too late as Louisiana College would pull out the 15-point victory.
Saturday will be a celebratory occasion as LETU will host Belhaven University for senior day at 2:00 p.m. Honoring Seniors Savannah Cummings and Ashley Reed follows the game against the Blazers.
Matt Kinney
Sports Information Director