LONGVIEW - Sophomore Cody Whitley pitched eight innings and struck out nine while junior Garrett Methvin went 3-for-4 at the plate with homerun as the LeTourneau YellowJackets defeated the Mary Hardin-Baylor Cru 6-2 on Friday night at Conrad-Vernon Field.

After Whitley started the game by putting the Cru down in order, junior Bryce Griffin led the inning off with a single followed by a walk and an error to load the bases up. Freshman Ryan Bertram walked to score the first run of the game followed by an error made by the shortstop to score two and take a early 3-0 lead.

It was all Whitley needed on this night as he came out on fire, setting the Cru down numerous times and picking up outs throughout the cool night.

The Jackets put together a two out rally in the third as R. Bertram doubled and Methvin scored him with a single to make it a 4-0.

Griffin made it 5-0 as he put the ball in play to score another run on a groundout and Methvin put the finishing touch on the Cru with a solo blast to right field.

Mary Hardin-Baylor was able to score a couple of runs in the eighth, but it was not enough as the Jackets cruised to the 6-2 win in game one of a three game series.

Whitley was phenomenal, pitching eight complete innings while only giving up two runs on six hits and striking out nine batters. Junior Jordan Price pitch the ninth inning and got one strikeout.

Offensively, Methvin was 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Griffin and senior Rhett Bohannon each had 2-for-5 days with Griffin adding a RBI. R. Bertram scored two runs on the evening while Bohannon and junior Dustin Varnado each had stolen bases. 

The Jackets are now 8-1 on the seaosn and return to action tomorrow afternoon for a doublehader at home as they look to win the series. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. with the second game set to follow after.