LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJacket baseball team returned to Conrad-Vernon Field on Saturday as they wrapped up a three game series with the Mary-Hardin Baylor Cru. The Jackets won the series by taking the first game of the afternoon, but dropped the second game.

Junior Curt Copeland got the start on the mound and cruised through the first two innings, shutting down the Cru. LeTourneau got things going in the bottom of the second as they loaded the bases up with one out. After a fielder's choice, junior Brent Sellers singled to the second baseman to score two and take a 1-0 lead.

UMHB responded with a run in the top of the third, but junior Bryce Griffin led the inning off with a single up the middle followed by walk to freshman Dillon Yates. Sophomore Ryan Bertram singled to score a run followed by a RBI single from junior Matt Leftwich and a RBI for junior Dustin Varnado to go up 5-1. 

Copeland was in complete control as the Jackets clung to the three run lead. The Cru was not going to go down quietly, as they came away with three runs in the sixth, but LeTourneau answered the bell in the bottom half, getting a two RBI single from junior Chris Bertram and a RBI single from Yates.

The Jackets closed things out to get the win and clinch the series, 8-4 in seven innings.

Copeland moves to 3-0 on the year, pitching a complete game and not allowing any earned runs while striking out three.

Offensively, C. Bertram went 1-for-4 on the afternoon with two RBIs while R. Bertram went 2-for-3 with a RBI and junior Garrett Methvin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

In the third and final game, LeTourneau jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings, thanks to an error that scored a run in the first and a sacrifice fly from Sellers in the second. The Cru responded by plating six runs throughout the next three innings. 

LeTourneau got one back on a wild pitch to make it a 6-3 game, but could not bring runners home in many different innings to try and make a run at the lead. 

However, they broke through in the seventh, as Varnado drove in a run with sac fly while Yates and R. Bertram drove in two out RBIs to tie things up at six.

But Mary Hardin-Baylor's bats were too hot in the end, as they scored seven runs in the next two innings to take the 13-6 win.

C. Bertram, R. Bertram, and Yates were all 2-for-5 on the afternoon and Sellers scored two runs while stealing a base. Sophomore Ben Boles took the loss for the Jackets.

Despite the split, the Jackets are still off to a tremendous start, one of the best in school history, moving to 9-2. They open American Southwest Conference play on Friday as they welcome in Louisiana College for a three game series. First pitch for Game One is at 6 p.m. from Conrad-Vernon Field.