LeTourneau University – Sports

 

BASEBALL

LONGVIEW, Texas – Returning to action for the first time in ten days, the LeTourneau University baseball team used a five-run second inning to defeat Wiley College in a rain-shortened six-plus inning game at Conrad-Vernon Field on Tuesday, March 27.

The game was called with no outs in the top of the seventh inning following a leadoff home run which would be followed up by a double for the Wildcats. Since the two at-bats did not affect the outcome of the game, the game becomes final at the point of the stoppage with all statistics and plays up to the end of the stoppage counting towards official figures.

LETU improves to 13-10 overall and 8-6 in non-conference action with Tuesday’s game serving as the non-conference finale. Wiley College falls to 10-15 overall with the loss.

The YellowJackets wasted no-time getting on the scoreboard following a 2-3-2 inning-ending double play to escape a jam in the top of the first inning as junior Bubba Valdez put LeTourneau in business with a solo home run. Will Bradshaw would then draw a walk and steal second before advancing on a throwing error and eventually score on a delayed run down by Jacob Jones to put LETU up 2-0.

Wiley College grabbed one run in the top of the second to cut the YellowJacket lead to 2-1 but saw LeTourneau respond with a five-run bottom of the second on four hits and an error. Four of LETU’s five runs came across as unearned for the YellowJackets, with Brandon Ramirez and Valdez both collecting extra-base hits. Pitching would settle in for both squads after the opening two innings of play as the only other run of the game came in the top of the seventh on a pinch-hit leadoff home run for the Wildcats.

A three-for-three performance from Valdez who also collected a game-high three RBI offensively led LETU. Gonzalo Sosa, Bradshaw, and Carson Dickey each drove in one run as Bradshaw would swipe the only bag of the game. Sosa managed to pitch a complete-game on the mound, tossing the full six-plus innings and allowing two runs while striking out five of the 25 batters he faced.

LeTourneau is scheduled to be back in action at home on Thursday, March 29th with a 7 p.m. home game against the University of the Ozarks. The critical American Southwest Conference series will then resume with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, March 30.

 

MEN’S GOLF

AUSTIN, Texas – A final round team score of 311 gave the LeTourneau University men’s golf team a seventh-place finish at the American Southwest Conference Preview Meet at Avery Ranch Golf Club in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, March 27.

LETU paired their final round score with a first-round total of 307 to finish with a total of 618, eight strokes back of sixth-place finish Hardin-Simmons University (610). Host school Concordia University Texas fired a final round of three-under 285 to finish the tournament at one-under 575 to win the preview meet while Texas-Tyler finished second with a total of 589.

The YellowJackets were led individually by senior Mason Terry, who finished tied for 10th after shooting a final round 78 to post a two-day total of 150 on the 7,001 yards Par 72 course. Senior Daniel Kay finished one shot back of Terry and tied for 12th following rounds of 76 and 75 while freshman Cory Gillespie shot a final round 78 to finish with a total of 158 and tied for 32nd. Also posting scores for LeTourneau at the meet was Cody Taylor (T39, 161), Dustin Dingler (T43, 162) and Keaton Williams (47th, 170).

LETU will get one final tune-up opportunity before postseason play, taking part in the Emory University Invitational on April 7th and 8th. The meet will take place at Smoke Rise Country Club in Tucker, GA.

 

WOMEN’S GOLF

AUSTIN, Texas – Making a 15-stroke improvement on their team score, the LeTourneau University women’s golf team held steady in their position to take fifth at the American Southwest Conference Women’s Golf Preview Meet held at the Avery Ranch Golf Club in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, March 27.

LETU finished with a final round score of 371 for a two-day total of 739, ten strokes ahead of both McMurry University and Howard Payne University who tied for sixth. Texas-Tyler won the team event after shooting a final day 306 to finish with a total of 621, followed by the University of Texas-Dallas (655) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (669).

From an individual standpoint, freshman Lauren Johnson was the highest finisher for the YellowJackets in a tie for 13th after shooting a final round of 91 to claim a two-round total of 171. Bree Mask shot a series of 90 for the second consecutive day to finish with a total of 180 in 19th place while Rachael Green moved up three spots after a final round of 92 gave her a total of 188 to tie for 24th. Melanie Pedigo also moved up three spots on the last day, shooting a series of 89 to finish tied for 31st.

LeTourneau will return to the Avery Ranch Golf Club on Monday, April 23rd to take part in the ASC Conference Championships. The meet will feature all seven schools that took part in the conference preview meet, along with Hardin-Simmons University, Louisiana College, and ASC Associate Member California Santa Cruz with 36 holes of golf to be played over two days.

Matt Kinney
Sports Information Director