LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJacket baseball team returned to Conrad-Vernon Field on Tuesday evening as they took on the Austin College 'Roos. LeTourneau got hits from all nine batters in the starting lineup and held off a late Austin rally to take a 12-8 win.

After striking out the first two batters, freshman Jack Van Saders got into a little trouble in the top of the first as a batter reached on an error followed by two walks to load the bases. However, Van Saders kept the game scoreless early on as he forced a groundout to end the inning.

Junior Dustin Varnado led the inning off with a walk followed by advancing to second on a wild pitch and then stealing third. Junior Bryce Griffin followed that up with a RBI single to right for a 1-0 lead.

After a single by junior Chris Bertram, freshman Dylan Yates roped a two RBI double to left center to put the Jackets on top 3-0 after one complete.

Van Saders put the 'Roos down in order and LeTourneau struck again in the second. After a triple by senior Chris Sellers and a walk to Griffin, C. Bertram came to the plate and launched a three run bomb over the right field fence to increase the lead to 6-0.

The two teams exchanged runs in the third thanks to errors, but Austin College clawed back, putting together a couple of runs in the fourth to make it a 7-3 game.

Junior Matt Leftwich moved the lead to 8-3 as he laced a single up the middle to score one.

The 'Roos again looked to answer back, getting three runs in the sixth to make it a two run game. However, LeTourneau responded big in the bottom of sixth starting with a leadoff single by C. Bertram. After a walk to junior Garrett Methvin and an error by Austin College tacked on another run, sophomore Ryan Bertram doubled to left center to score two more runs and break the game back open at 11-6.

Austin College tried to fire back, but the LeTourneau relievers buckled down to improve the team to 7-1 on the season with the win.

Van Saders got the start, but only pitched three innings, allowing no hits, but giving up three runs, two of them being earned, walking five, and striking out four. Sophomore Andrew Smith improves to 1-0 on the year, getting the win in 2.2 innings pitched and striking out one. Junior Jordan Price and sophomore Ben Boles also saw action later in the game.

C. Bertram led the way on the evening, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Five other Jackets had multiple hits in Yates, Methvin, Leftwich, R. Bertram, and senior Jay Lutz. Yates, Leftwich, and R. Bertram all drove in two runs while Griffin and Methvin scored two runs each. 

LeTourneau will welcome in the Mary-Hardin Baylor Cru on Friday and Satruday for their first three game series at home. All fans are encouraged to come out and support with the first game coming up Friday at 1 p.m. Be sure and check letuathletics.com for all up to date information.