LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJacket softball team opened up an eight game home series by welcoming in the Louisiana College Wildcats on Thursday afternoon. The Jackets used a two run seventh inning to pick up a 2-1 win in the first game before falling 3-1 in game two.

In the first game, Louisiana College (16-5, 8-4 ASC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first after a two out, RBI double to jump out ahead.

Junior Kelli Parton settled in and was outstanding in the circle as she kept the Wildcats off balance throughout the game and continued to give her team a chance as it progressed.

However, her counterpart Leslie Eastham, was equally impressive, holding the Jackets scoreless through six innings as the Jackets (18-12, 5-9 ASC) were only able to scatter two hits.

In the seventh, freshman Shelby Borders led the rally off with a single to right followed by a single to right by junior Jourdan Glover. After an excellent bunt by freshman Halee Pryor moved the runners to second and third with one away. Junior Kaylee Pritchett came up in a pinch hit situation and singled a run home to tie it up.

With runners on first and third, a wild pitch got away from the Wildcat catcher and Glover hustled home to score the game winning run and take the 2-1 win.

Parton was excellent, pitching a complete game, allowing only two hits and one earned run while striking out seven to pick up her third win of the season.

Offensively, Border was 2-for-3 with a run scored while Glover and Tuel added 1-for-3 games. Pritchett was 1-for-1 with a huge RBI.

In the second game, Parton got the start and put the Wildcats down in order in the first. The Jackets took that momentum into the bottom of the first where Tuel led things off with a single to left. After a sac bunt and an out, Glover picked up an infield single followed by stealing second to score Tuel. 

However, the Wildcats responded with three runs in the second inning on the only three hits they got in the game to go up 3-1.

Junior Taylor Thibodeaux came in relief and kept the Cats at bay, but the Jackets, despite scattering six hits, could not bring any runs in. 

LeTourneau had their chances, leaving six runners on, but ended up falling as the Cats held on for the 3-1 win and the split.

The first five hitters in the lineup all had singles, but could not get anything going. Of all the hits, none of the Jackets hits were extra base hits. 

Thibodeaux pitched 5.1 innings, giving up no hits and striking out two batters. Parton took the loss for the Jackets.

LeTourneau returns to action on Wednesday when they welcome in the No. 4 team in the nation, the Texas-Tyler Patriots. First pitch of a doubleheader is at 4 p.m. with Live Video available via letuathletics.tv