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LeTourneau Baseball Takes 12-6 Victory Over the University of Dallas.
IRVING, Texas – Trailing 4-3 after three innings of play, the LeTourneau University baseball team would score at least one run in each of the final four innings including a three-run sixth to double up the University of Dallas 12-6 at Crusader Field on Sunday, February 17.
The victory gives LETU the series win over the Crusaders as the YellowJackets improve to 2-4 on the season. UD is now 5-3 overall after dropping two of three games to LETU this weekend.
How It Happened:
LeTourneau would waste no time getting the bats going in the top of the first as the first five batters of the game would reach base as a Bryce Brueggemeyer RBI single and Cody Lee bases-loaded walk would bring home two runs for LETU on two hits to go up 2-0.
The YellowJackets would then use a one-two-three bottom of the first to get the offense going again, scoring one run in the second on a delayed steal to second which would bring home Lee Hosie and make things 3-0 heading to the bottom of the second.
A two-hit, two-run bottom of the second allowed the Crusaders to cut into the LETU lead as U-Dallas would also take advantage of two wild pitches to plate their runs.
Two more runs would come across for the Crusaders in the bottom of the third on three singles as the University of Dallas would strand two runners but not after taking a 4-3 lead going to the fourth.
Only one hit would be recorded by either team throughout the fourth and fifth inning to keep the score at 4-3 in favor of the University of Dallas before LETU would get the offense back up and going with a three-run top of the sixth to reclaim a 6-4 lead.
Jacob Jones would then blast a solo home run in the top of the seventh to and score another insurance run in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch to go up 8-4.
LeTourneau would add four runs on one hit as the Crusader defense would commit two errors in the top of the ninth to allow LETU to score their runs on just a single hit and take a commanding 12-4 lead.
Dallas would respond with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the ninth, but the damage would have already been done as LETU took their second straight victory to close out the weekend.
Key Stats:
Using four total pitchers in the game, Ryder Lognion would pick up his first decision of the year with a win after throwing four shutout innings in relief of Kolbey Sharpe who would toss the first four innings in his second start of the year.
LeTourneau would reach the double-digit hit mark for the third time this season, collecting 12 total hits with four of the 12 hits going for extra-bases. The Crusaders would be limited to just six singles total with only one going for extra-bases.
A four-for-five effort from center fielder Jacob Jones would lead the way for the YellowJackets, as the senior would also drive in a pair of runs and score three times thanks in part to a six-hit effort from the top three batters in the LeTourneau lineup (Hosie, Brandon Ramirez, and Brueggemeyer).
What’s Next?
After playing their first six games of the season on the road, LETU is now scheduled to come home for a seven-game homestand beginning on Tuesday, February 19th with a 6:00 p.m. contest against Centenary College. The Gents are off to a 3-5 start after dropping all three games of a home series against La Verne this past weekend.
LeTourneau Track Improves Marks At Texas A&M Twilight Meet, Sets 10 School Records.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Competing in their first twilight meet of the 2019 season, the LeTourneau University women’s and men’s track and field team would combine to set ten school records at the Texas A&M Aggie Twilight Meet in College Station, Texas on Saturday, February 16.
No team scores were kept for the event, and it featured a mix of NCAA Division I, II, II and unattached athletes.
The YellowJacket women would set a total of six new school records led by Tori Field who would set new school-bests in the long jump (4.87 meters, 15 ft. – 11.75 in.) and 60-meter hurdles (10.45).
Also setting a pair of new school-records would be Ro Galloway in the 60 meters (8.38) and 200 meters (27.22) while Lexi Funk would establish a new school record in the 400 meters (1:06.95).
LeTourneau would also see Rebekah Stevenson set a new school record in the weight throw (11.61 meters, 38 ft. – 1.25 in.) with Alicia Griscom setting a new personal-best in the event (10.17 meters, 33 ft. – 4.5 in.). Stevenson would also compete in the shot put (9.39 meters, 30 ft. – 9.75 in.) while Kristyn Matthews would compete in the 60 meters (8.43) and 200 meters (29.76).
On the men’s side, it would be Arvin Hrushka in the high jump (1.80 meters, 5 ft. – 10.75 in.), Stanley Williams in the 200 meters (23.49), and Keishaun McMillian in the shot put (10.57 meters, 34 ft. – 8.25 in.) as well as the 4×400 meter relay team consisting of Colton Pounders, Collin Jones, Jack Miller, and Dalton Heichelheim (3:31.82) that would set new school-record marks.
Hrushka would prove to be one of the busiest YellowJackets Saturday, also competing in the shot put (9.82 meters, 32 ft. – 2.75 in.), and 400 meters (54.09). Jones would add the shot put (8.79 meters, 28 ft. – 10.25 in.), pole vault (4.59 meters, 15 ft. – 0.75 in.) and 200 meters (23.53) to his list of events. Williams also recorded a time of 7.11 in the 60 meters while Pounders would put up a time of 9.48 in the 60-meter hurdles. LeTourneau’s other two marks would come from Heichelheim in the 400 meters (53.05) and Nate Berlandier in the long jump (5.55 meters, 18 ft. – 2.5 in.).
LeTourneau will split their squad next weekend by going to the Hardin-Simmons Relays and the Great American Conference Last Chance Meet hosted on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. A majority of the team will go to Abilene with those that are on the edge of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships heading to Norman.
LeTourneau Baseball Earns Saturday Split With the University of Dallas.
IRVING, Texas – Falling 3-2 in the series opener, the LeTourneau University baseball team would jump all over the University of Dallas in game two to take a 9-2 victory and split a road doubleheader at Crusader Field in Irving, Texas on Saturday, February 16.
Following the twin bill split, LeTourneau is now 1-4 overall and puts themselves in position to earn a series win tomorrow afternoon while the Crusaders are 5-2 overall with all seven games coming against American Southwest Conference competition.
How It Happened (Game 1):
It would be a slow start for both squads as the only hit through the first two innings of play would come on a one-out single in the bottom of the second which would leave things scoreless through two innings.
The YellowJackets would threaten to push the first run of the game across in the top of the third as a Brandon Ramirez leadoff single would be stranded at third as a double-play ended the inning with LETU coming up empty-handed.
Pitching would continue to be the main storyline through the rest of the third and the top half of the fourth inning before the Crusaders would score two runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to go up 2-0 after four innings of play.
LeTourneau would then be snake-bitten again by a double-play as a leadoff infield single would be left at third with LETU still searching for their first run of the game.
The score would stay 2-0 in favor of the University of Dallas until the top of the seventh when LeTourneau would put runners on the corners with one out before tying the game on a two-RBI double from Ramirez.
With the go-ahead run at third, LETU would unable to take the lead as the Crusaders would manage to keep things tied heading to the bottom of the seventh.
Looking to send things to extra-innings, the YellowJackets would record two quick outs to start the bottom of the seventh but see U-Dallas string together three straight singles and score a walk-off victory heartbreakingly.
Key Stats (Game 1):
Tossing a complete game, senior Andrew Harlan would take the loss after allowing just six hits and striking out two on a 90-pitch outing.
In addition to driving in both runs for LETU, Ramirez would go a perfect three-for-three at the dish and collect the only extra-base hit of the game for the YellowJackets.
Also collecting hits in the game for LETU would be Bryce Brueggemeyer (two), Will Bradshaw (one), and Eli Birriel (one).
How It Happened (Game 2):
Having seen the bats warm up towards the end of game one, LETU would put together a two-out rally in the top of the first to score two runs on four hits but leave the bases loaded with an opportunity to break things open early go wasted.
LeTourneau would go on to make up for the missed opportunity in the top of the first by scoring four runs with Noah Mahoneycollecting a two-RBI double with Cody Lee and Brueggemeyer also hitting RBI doubles to put the YellowJackets up 6-0 after two innings.
The defense would then take over on both ends as the score would remain a six-run lead in favor of LeTourneau until the top of the eighth when two more runs would come across with an RBI double from Ramirez and RBI single from Bradshaw.
The Crusaders would match LETU in the bottom of the eighth with two runs of their own on four hits with both scores coming with two outs.
Only one run would be scored in the final inning of the game as LeTourneau would plate a run with Ramirez driving in his fourth RBI of the day as the YellowJackets would go on to split the day.
Key Stats:
Bradshaw would nearly match Harlan’s performance on the mound by going 7.2 innings strong and allowing just four hits while striking out eight to earn his first victory of the year (1-1).
LETU would outhit the Crusaders 13-5 in the contest with Ramirez leading the way again by going three-for-five as the top four batters in the LeTourneau lineup collecting eight of the 13 hits.
The YellowJackets would also draw a season-high eight walks in the contest despite stranding 12 runners in the game.
What’s Next?
The two teams will conclude their three-game set with a 1:00 p.m. nine-inning game at Crusader field Sunday. The game will end a season-opening six-game road trip for the YellowJackets.
More of the Same For LeTourneau Softball In 14-4 Victory At McMurry.
ABILENE, Texas – A day after blasting eight home runs in a doubleheader sweep of host McMurry University, the LeTourneau University softball team would once again turn to the long ball to dispatch the War Hawks by a final score of 14-4 at Red Bud Park Field 1 in Abilene, Texas on Saturday, February 16.
Off to their best start since 2013, LETU improved to 5-0 with the win and 3-0 in the American Southwest Conference with a series sweep while McMurry fell under .500 at 5-6 overall and 0-3 in the ASC.
How It Happened:
The home run power of the YellowJackets would be on display early in the game as a two-run shot from Haydn Parker would open the scoring to make things 2-0 after one inning of play.
Five of the first six batters would safely reach base to start the top of the second inning as LeTourneau would take advantage of three hits and one McMurry error to plate four runs with Kennedi Dillow delivering a two-RBI double with two outs to break the game open.
MCM would then use a leadoff walk in the bottom half of the second to score their first run of the game on a one-out single but would be unable to cut into the YellowJacket lead any further to face a five-run deficit after two innings of action.
Sophomore Katelyn Trombley would get the run back for LeTourneau by hitting a leadoff home run down the right field line to open the third inning as LETU would score one more run on an Ethel Warren RBI single to make the score 8-1 and take full control of the game.
Looking to add to their lead and put the game out of reach, the YellowJackets would manage to plate four more runs on five hits in the top of the fourth and go up 12-1.
McMurry would manage to grab just one run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI bases-loaded walk with two outs, but leave the bases loaded in what would be their best opportunity of the day to get back into the game.
It would be Parker again who would blast her second home run of the day with one out in the top of the fifth, with Hana Bonner getting in on the fun two batters later to hit a solo homer of her own as LETU would get two runs to take their largest lead of the afternoon.
The War Hawks wouldn’t go down without a fight, scoring two runs on three hits and one LeTourneau error but would not be able to extend the game past the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Key Stats
With four home runs on the day, LETU now has 14 home runs through their first five games of the season and are just five less than last year’s total of 19 which accomplished in 38 games.
Tossing a complete game, Leigh Luker would pick up her second victory of the season by allowing just five hits and striking out three of the 27 batters she faced.
Nine different players had a LeTourneau’s 15-hit outing with six different players recording two hits each.
What’s Next?
A five-game road stand concludes on Wednesday, February 20 with a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader at the University of Texas-Tyler in non-conference action. The YellowJackets and Patriots do not meet in ASC play this year, meaning this is the only and possibly final meeting to take place between the two teams. Texas-Tyler is slated to move to NCAA Division II next season as part of the three-year NCAA Division II Reclassification process.
Long-Ball Powers LeTourneau Softball To Doubleheader Sweep At McMurry
ABILENE, Texas- Coming off a 2-0 start to their 2019 campaign, the LeTourneau University softball team cashed in two more wins as they started American Southwest Conference play against McMurry University with a doubleheader sweep (15-7 in five innings and 8-4) on Friday, February 15.
How It Happened (Game 1):
Macey Mize started the offensive attack in the top of the first with a two-run home run to drive in leadoff batter Kiley Banks who would get on with a bunt single.
The War Hawks answered with a run of their own to bring the score to 2-1 but would strand two runners to end the inning.
A Miranda Price RBI single to right center would bring home Sylvia Montgomery to extend the YellowJacket lead to 3-1 in the top of the second but would see McMurry score two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the inning to knot the score at 3-3.
LeTourneau would waste no time to reclaim the lead by seeing Haydn Parker get aboard with a leadoff single and would be followed up by a Katelyn Trombley two-run home run as the first seven batters that LETU would send to the plate in the third would reach base.
LeTourneau would manage to score eight runs in the inning with Banks also collecting a two-run home run that would put LeTourneau up 11-6 lead following a three-run bottom of the third by the War Hawks.
The three runs allowed by LETU in the bottom of the third would be made upon a four-run top of the fourth as Parker would hit a bases-clearing double to drive in three runs and put the YellowJackets in full control of the game with a 15-6 lead.
Things would then settle down as LETU would escape a two-out bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth to come away unscathed and send stuff to the fifth before going down in order n to bring MCM right back up to bat.
The War Hawks cut the lead to 15-7 with a two-out solo home-run but would be unable to score a decisive second run to extend the game with LETU bringing the eight-run mercy rule after five innings of play.
Key Stats
Five of LeTourneau’s 15 hits would go for extra bases in the game as all five extra-base hits would come from different players.
LETU would also manage to swipe four bags with Banks (two), Mize (one), and Ethel Warren (one) all claiming free bases.
Parker led the YellowJackets with four RBI’s while adding a team-high three hits in her four at-bats for the YellowJackets.
How It Happened (Game 2):
Mize would strike again in the top of the first by hitting a solo shot over the left field fence to give the YellowJackets an early 1-0 advantage after claiming LETU’s only hit of the first inning.
After holding McMurry scoreless in the bottom of the first, LeTourneau would strand a leadoff walk drawn by Trombley before seeing the War Hawks responded with a solo home run of their own in the bottom of the second to tie things at 1-1 heading to the third.
The YellowJackets would open the floodgates in the top of the third by using a leadoff single and stolen base to allow Kennedi Dillow to drive in Warren and reclaim the lead at 2-1 before seeing Parker, Trombley, and Hana Bonner hit back-to-back-to-back home runs and claim a 6-1 lead after a five-hit, five-run inning.
The home run derby would not be over as the War Hawks answered with a home run of their own in the bottom of the third and would retire the YellowJackets in order in the fourth to put the score at 6-2 after three and a half innings of action.
LeTourneau’s lead would be cut in half in the bottom of the fourth as McMurry would score two runs on two hits and take advantage of two LETU errors to put themselves back in the game heading to the latter stages of the nightcap.
Minimal action would be seen in the fifth and sixth innings as the YellowJackets would strand three runners over the two innings to come up empty but hold their own defensively and retire the next six War Hawk batters in order.
A two-run top of the seventh would allow the YellowJackets to extend their lead to 8-4 with some much-needed insurance runs as Parker would hit her second home run of the game and drive in Mize who would reach base following a War Hawk error.
Looking for a last-ditch effort to try and extend the game, McMurry would see two quick outs before stringing together a pair of singles to make some noise before a fielder’s choice would end the game and give LeTourneau their second consecutive doubleheader sweep.
Key Stats:
Samantha Akers improved to 3-0 on the season with 3 1/3 innings in relief, allowing just two hits after taking over for Leigh Luker in the fourth. It would wind up being the second victory of the day for Akers, who also recorded the win in game one.
Capping off a career-day at the plate, Parker led the team with four RBI’s as both of her hits would be home runs.
The 11-hit performance by LeTourneau would come from six different players as five players (Mize, Parker, Trombley, Bonner, and Warren) each had two hits.
What’s Next?
The YellowJackets will return to action on Saturday, February 16 as they look to remain undefeated while facing the War Hawks in game three of the series at 12:00 p.m. LETU will be looking for their third conference sweep in their last four conference series dating back to last season.
LeTourneau Men’s Basketball Comeback Thwarted At Buzzer By Texas-Dallas.
LONGVIEW, Texas – With a chance to win a share of the American Southwest Conference East Division Title and the right to host next weekend’s ASC Championship Tournament, the LeTourneau University men’s basketball would see a game-winning shot in the final seconds. It came up short to fall by a final score of 89-88 to Texas-Dallas at Solheim Arena on Thursday, February 14.
With the regular-season officially in the books, LETU will enter next week’s ASC Tournament with a 17-8 overall record with the tournament being hosted by the Comets who improve to 20-4 overall heading into their regular-season finale at East Texas Baptist Saturday afternoon.
How It Happened:
Not much better of start could have been drawn up by the YellowJackets as senior Seth Mattson would race out and score 10 of the first 11 points in the game to give LeTourneau a 10-1 lead 4:08 into the game.
Five straight points by Texas-Dallas would cut the lead down to four at 10-6 as the Comets would manage to reduce the deficit to two with 13:35 left in the first half.
LeTourneau would push their lead back to five on a Christian Seidl triple less than a minute later but see UTD continue to make their push to tie things up at 17-17 with 9:20 gone by in the opening period.
Texas-Dallas would take their first lead of the game at 21-19 with 9:32 left in the first half and go up by 11 at 30-19 to cap off a 13-0 run but see Elijah Gerber pull LETU back within single-digits with a triple to stop the run.
It would take LeTourneau the next four-plus minutes of game action to close the deficit down to a single-point at 34-33 with 3:36 remaining in the first half, but UTD would again go on a spurt by scoring six straight points to go back up seven with just over two minutes until intermission.
A Jalen Weber triple for the Comets would seemingly give Texas-Dallas an eight-point halftime lead but it would Justin Moore who would hit a 15-foot jumper right with two seconds remaining to end the half and put the score 45-39 in favor of UTD.
LeTourneau would try every which way to cut into the Texas-Dallas lead to open the second half but would be unable to string a run together as the Comets would match the YellowJackets shot for shot.
Mattson would provide a spark by hitting a three with 15:35 remaining to pull LETU within a single-possession at 51-48 before seeing Nate West score five of the next seven points to tie the game at 56-56.
UTD would be quick to reclaim a six-point lead just minutes later by scoring seven of the next eight points but see West start to catch fire from outside as another triple put the score at 63-60 with only over 12 minutes remaining.
Doing everything he could to get his team back into the game, West would tie the score once again at 71-71 with 7:56 remaining but could manage to get LeTourneau the lead as the Comets would find a way to stay one step ahead of the YellowJackets and keep from seeing a second-half deficit.
Things would begin to look bleak as a pair of Michael Forster free throws would put Texas-Dallas up 85-77 with 3:02 remaining, but it would be LeTourneau who would score six of the next eight points with four of the six points coming at the charity stripe to cut the lead in half with 1:23 remaining.
A C.J. Bird trey with 51 seconds remaining would get LeTourneau back within a single-point at 87-86, but see the Comets managed to get a layup and call a timeout up three with 24 seconds remaining.
Bird would then grab an offensive rebound off a missed West triple and get fouled on a putback, managing to hit both free throws with 11 seconds left to put the deficit back at a single point (89-88).
A chance for LETU to win would come after Curtis Allen would miss the front end of a one-and-one free throw, but it would not be in the cards as a desperation shot from three would fall short by West, and the ball tipped around until time expired to allow the Comets to escape.
Key Stats:
It would be the efficiency of the Comets who shot 52.1 percent (37-for-71) from the field in the game while LeTourneau would cool off in the second half (15-of-39, 38.46 percent) to finish the game 29-of-68 (42.6 percent) from the field.
Pouring in 17 of his career-high 20 points in the first half, Mattson would also add two rebounds in 26 minutes of action.
West would add 28 points including 26 in the second half while Bird (13) and Caleb Loggins (10) would join the duo in double-figures.
What’s Next?
LeTourneau will now play a waiting game to see who they will take on as the YellowJackets will open the ASC Tournament in game one which will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21 at the UTD Activity Center in Richardson, Texas. LETU’s two possible opponents are Concordia University Texas and Hardin-Simmons and will be decided following Saturday’s regular-season finale for both teams. Regardless of who LeTourneau squares off against, the YellowJackets will be looking to avenge an earlier season loss to either the Tornadoes (87-82 on 11/29/18) or the Cowboys (98-95 on 1/3/19).
LeTourneau Women’s Basketball Ends Season with 59-44 Loss To Texas-Dallas
LONGVIEW, Texas- Playing in their final game of the 2019 season, the LeTourneau University women’s basketball team fell victim to a hot University of Texas-Dallas squad 59-44 on Thursday, February 14 at Solheim Arena.
The YellowJackets end their season with a 6-19 overall record and a 3-13 standing in American Southwest Conference play. The Comets improve to 20-4 overall and 13-2 in ASC action as they face one more regular season contest at East Texas Baptist on Saturday, February 16th with the winner earning an outright American Southwest Conference East Division Title.
How It Happened:
The Comets fast-paced offense took control in the opening two minutes of play as they went on a 7-0 run to stake themselves an early lead.
LETU would cut the deficit to as little as four after a Keauna Whitfield layup with 5:31 remaining in the period but the Comets would manage to extend their lead as the quarter ended to put themselves up 22-12.
Both squads would see a quiet offensive second quarter, but it would be LeTourneau who would pick up the pace nearing the break by scoring the final five points of the half to pull themselves within ten at 31-21.
After scoring the opening ten points of the half, the Comets defense would hold their own as they allowed just six points from the YellowJackets in the quarter which put LETU in a 46-27-hole heading to the fourth.
LETU would score seven straight points midway through the final quarter but failed to cut the deficit to less than 13 as they would never quite string a big enough run together to close the gap.
Key Stats:
Texas-Dallas would see 30 of their 59 points come from shots in the paint while LETU struggled in that area, sinking just three shots in four quarters of play.
Chauntel Acosta would end her season on a high-note scoring a team-best 12 points as she was the lone YellowJacket to hit the double-digit mark. Senior Sha’Donnaver Young grabbed a team-high six rebounds in her final game as a YellowJacket.
Shooting percentage would hurt LETU as they shot just 24.6 percent (14-for-57) from the field while the Comets sunk 41.1 percent (23-of-56) of their shots.
LeTourneau Women’s Cross Country Earns USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The LeTourneau University women’s cross country has been awarded the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III All-Academic Team Award for their performance both in and out of the classroom during the 2018 cross country season.
For a team’s consideration for this honor, it must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional meet and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale. Overall, there were 393 teams honored by the USTFCCCA, of which 215 were women’s teams. The LeTourneau women take home the honor of having the highest team GPA of any NCAA Division III team to receive the All-Academic team award by posting a combined GPA of 3.85.
Individually, junior Alexis Segura would be honored as one of 382 individuals on the women’s side to earn USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition by having a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher and finishing in the top 25 percent of her respective regional cross country meet. The Austin, Texas native matched a school-record finish at the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional Meet by placing 11th overall. Majoring in sports management, Segura currently has a 4.0 GPA.
Matt Kinney
Sports Information Director
Office: 903-233-3735
Cell: 903-736-7669
MattKinney@letu.edu
www.letuathletics.com