LeTourneau University

 

 

BASEBALL

The LeTourneau University baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Dallas, 8-3 and 10-0 on Saturday in a pair of seven-inning contests in Irving.

The YellowJackets (3-5) rallied from an early 3-1 deficit to score a run each in the third and fourth inning before scoring five times in the eighth to take game one. LeTourneau had 13 hits in the win with five different players having at least two. Freshman Aaron Perkins led the attack with a 2-for-4 effort with a run scored and a three-RBI single in the eighth. Also, with two hits were seniors Sean Sellers and Taylor Empkey, junior Jacob Simmons and freshman Jacob Faubion.

Junior starting pitcher Jordan Carns pitched seven innings and striking out five to pick up the win to improve to 1-2. Freshman Will Bradshaw threw a scoreless eighth to close out the contest for the YellowJackets.

“Jordan (Carns) is regaining the sharpness that he showed all of last year that has allowed us to extend him in the last couple of games,” said LeTourneau University head coach Robin Harriss. “He’s dialed in and confidently headed into the conference opener next Friday night.”

LeTourneau took the momentum from game one into game two as they posted a 10-0 win. The last time that the YellowJackets defeated a team by ten runs was last year on Senior Day against Ozarks on May 2 en route to a 14-4 win. For the second-straight game, LeTourneau had double-digit hits with a 10-hit attack. Seven different players contributed to the assault including junior Kyle Jacobs, freshman Lee Hosie, and Perkins, who each had two. Jacobs also had a run scored and had a season-high three RBI. Sellers also had three RBI for the YellowJackets.

All of the offensive production gave plenty of support to freshman pitcher Andrew Harlan, who allowed just six hits – all singles – for his first college shutout. “Andrew (Harlan) showed competitiveness and poise in a dominant outing,” said Harriss. “Pitching off of his fastball, which was live, he challenged hitters and was able to control the hitting zone all day. He has solidified himself as a solid starter for us after his last two appearances.”

Next, LeTourneau will begin American Southwest Conference play as they host Hardin-Simmons in a three-game series at Conrad-Vernon Field. Action starts on Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m. and wraps up with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20 at noon.

 

SOFTBALL
The LeTourneau University softball team dropped a doubleheader to East Texas Baptist, 14-3 (5 innings) and 6-5 on Saturday afternoon in Longview.

ETBU jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader en route to the 14-3 win over the YellowJackets. Ten different Tigers had a hit including Linzie Lewis, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and five RBI in the win. Starting pitcher

LeTourneau had six hits including a pair from senior Megan Hill for her sixth multi-hit game of the young season. Freshman Macey Mize hit her first career home run in the third inning. The YellowJackets used three pitchers including starter Kayla Cosby, who falls to 3-1 after giving up seven runs (two earned).

In the nightcap, it was a four-run seventh inning that led the No. 4 Tigers to a 6-5 come-from-behind win over LeTourneau.

The YellowJackets rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to tie the contest in the third on an RBI single by freshman Macey Mize. Then, LeTourneau took its first lead of the weekend when they capitalized on a pair of ETBU errors. Hill drove in a pair on a single to put the YellowJackets ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth. ETBU cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top half of the fifth inning, but LeTourneau got the run back in its half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kelsie Benson. The YellowJackets started the inning with a single by Gauspohl and a double by Mize to put runners on the corners for Benson.

ETBU went ahead in the top of the seventh on a pair of two-run home runs, but the YellowJackets mounted a comeback in the bottom of the inning. Gauspohl and Mize reached on a single and a walk to start the inning, putting runners on first and second. An infield fly and a strikeout brought sophomore Kelsi Coleman to the plate with the winning run on second. Coleman ripped a single to left-center field scoring Gauspohl but was thrown out at second in an attempt to stretch it into a double to end the game.

Mize and Gauspohl each had two hits to lead the YellowJackets in the loss. Freshman Samantha Thomas pitched her first complete game, allowing nine hits, six runs and striking out to fall to 0-1. For ETBU, Jayme Perez pitched three innings of relief, allowing two hits, a run and striking out two to improve to 2-0.

The YellowJackets will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 19 against No. 1 UT-Tyler at 6:00 p.m at Sudden Link Field.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
To write the script to a perfect Senior Day, you had to be in Solheim Arena on Saturday.

LeTourneau University’s CJ Edwards hit six 3-pointers in the first half to start his Senior Day en route a game-high 27 points to lead the YellowJackets to a 102-88 win over Ozarks. His supporting cast of fellow seniorsGiovanny Thompson and Zakarius Wells put forth the same kind of effort that has the YellowJackets back in the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Thompson had his ninth double-double of the season with 13 points and ten rebounds, plus Wells had a solid all-around game with six points, five rebounds, and nine assists. Recognized in pre-game ceremonies was The trio of Edwards, Thompson, and Wells as well as Jake Kennedy – who graduated in December and student assistant coach Chris Hynes. With the win, LeTourneau improves to 12-13 overall and 8-7 in the ASC. Ozarks falls to 13-12 overall and 4-11 in the ASC in the loss.

Joining Edwards and Thompson in double figures was junior Jeff Martin, who had his third double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 assists. Plus, sophomore Alec Colhoff made four 3-pointers to add 18 points.

Four Eagles scored in double figures, including Josh Berard (25 points), Jace Richardson (24 points), Dylan Gray (13 points) and Kelby Robinson (12 points). Gray also pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds for Ozarks.

Edwards scored 11 of the first 13 points for the YellowJackets to put host LeTourneau ahead 13-11 with 13:00 left in the opening. The YellowJackets pushed the lead to as much as 15 in the opening 20 minutes, but a resilient Ozarks squad cut the lead to three on a pair of occasions. However, the YellowJackets closed out the half with five unanswered points including a jumper just before the halftime buzzer by Martin. A thunderous dunk that led to a 3-point play by Thompson put LeTourneau ahead by 12, 58-46 with 17:28 left in the game. The YellowJackets remained in front by double figures for the rest of the contest.

“CJ got it going early, and the rest of our guys fed off his hot start. It was a true team win,” said an excited LETU head coach Dan Miller. “I was very happy that we sent our seniors out with a win at home. Our team is very close, and that carries over to the basketball court.”

Next, the YellowJackets travel across the state for the American Southwest Conference Tournament hosted by Sul Ross State in Alpine. The YellowJackets will take on the host Lobos in its opening round matchup on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The LeTourneau University women’s basketball team wrapped up the regular season with an 84-75 win over Ozarks on Senior Day on Saturday in Longview.

The win raises the YellowJackets record to 16-9 overall and 11-4 in the ASC. The 16 wins by LeTourneau are its most since LeTourneau joined NCAA Division III before the start of the 2003-04 season. The 11 conference wins are the most by a LeTourneau team since the 2000-01 team posted 12 conference wins. The win secures the second place for LeTourneau in the ASC East Division for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The loss drops Ozarks to 10-13 overall and 3-12 in the ASC.

LeTourneau landed four players in double figures including Crystal Jones (24 points), Ashley Stephens (15 points), Bria Goodman (13 points) and Alexandria Burroughs (10 points). Honored after the game were Stephens and Burroughs as both were playing in their final home games at Solheim Arena.

Three Eagles scored in double figures including Ashley Hipps, who scored a game-high 29. Mackie Kultgen, who added 16 and Bryanna Moltz, who had a double-double with 17 points and a game-high ten rebounds, joined Hipps in double figures.

“I could not be more excited for our seniors and this team after today’s win,” said LETU head coach Leslie Reinecker. “They found a way to finish our regular season strong and made history. Now, all sights are set on making a run in the ASC Tournament. Tournament time is always special, and this team has earned a chance to be a part of it. I am looking forward to seeing what we can do on Thursday.”

LeTourneau led the entire contest en route to the win and built a lead as large as 15 in the opening quarter for the victory. On the strength of the season-high 13 points from Goodman, the LETU bench outscored Ozarks, 26-3.

Next, the YellowJackets will now enter the American Southwest Conference Tournament for only the third time in program history. LeTourneau also made an appearance in 2002-03 and 2013-14. Action at the tournament for LeTourneau will start on Thursday at noon against Hardin-Simmons University. Earlier this season, LeTourneau posted a 66-55 win over the Cowgirls on December 12 in Abilene.