POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH BEN BOLES (COMING SOON)

KERRVILLE - The LeTourneau YellowJacket baseball team returned to the diamond on Friday as they battled the Schreiner Mountaineers in a non-conference, crossover matchup. In Game One, the Jackets got two runs in the eighth inning and held off a late Schreiner rally to earn a 3-1 win over the Mountaineers. 

Sophomore Cody Whitley got the start for LeTourneau as shut down Schreiner through the first two innings.

Junior Dustin Varnado led the top of the third off with a single as the Jackets looked to strike. After two outs including a fielder's choice, junior Chris Bertram singled follwed by an error by the center fielder to bring senior Jay Lutz around to score to take the early 1-0 lead.

The Mountaineers looked to respond in the fourth with a double followed by a single for runners on the corner with no outs. Whitley got a double play to clear the bases, but allowed a run to tie the game at one.

The Jackets got runners on base, but could not make the most of it as the game remained tied going into the bottom of the seventh.

Schreiner looked to strike with two outs in the seventh, loading the bases up on a walk and a pair of singles. However, Whitley came through with clutch pitches to get out of the jam, getting a ground out to keep the game even.

LeTourneau struck in the eighth as C. Bertram belted a double and after a flyout, advanced to third on a groundball to get into scoring position as the go ahead run with two down. Freshman Ryan Bertram came up huge with a base hit to score his brother and go ahead 2-1. After a single by junior Bryce Griffin, senior Brent Sellers added an insurance run to take a 3-1 lead.

Sophomore Caleb Pritchett came in the eighth and got out of trouble with two runners on to hold the lead going into the last inning of play.

After LeTourneau couldn't notch another run despite runners on second and third with no outs, sophomore Ben Boles checked into the game to close things out.

However, after the first two runners got on, a sacrifice bunt put the tying run on second with only one out. Boles buckled down and got a strike out and a fly out to end the game and pick up his second save of the season.

Whitley got his second win of the season, pitching seven while only allowing one run, striking out one and walking three. Pritchett added an inning of work for the hold while Boles pitched an inning, only allowing one hit for the save.

Griffin had a monster day, going 4-for-4 on the afternoon while Sellers and C. Bertram each went 2-for-4 today with a RBI. R. Bertram had the go ahead RBI, his only hit of the day.

The Jackets will be back in action tomorrow as they will finish their three game series with a doubleheader. First pitch will begin at 12 p.m. with a seven inning game followed by a nine inning game.