LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJackets were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they took on the Louisiana College Wildcats at Conrad-Vernon Field to wrap up the first conference series of the season. LeTourneau came out ready to go, taking the first one by score of 6-1 before dropping the second one 3-2.

In the first game, the Wildcats (8-7, 2-1 ASC) used small ball to scratch a run across the board despite no hits being given up. Sophomore Ryan Bertram answered that with a solo blast over the left field fence to tie the game at one in the second inning.

The Jackets (10-4, 1-2 ASC) then broke things open in the bottom of the third as junior Dustin Varnado got things rolling by being hit by a pitch with one out. Senior Ryan Bohannon then battled wtih two strikes and singled to the shortstop. However, an errid throw moved Bohannon over to second and scored a run for a 2-1 lead. 

Junior Chris Bertram followed up with a RBI single followed by a double down the right field line for junior Garrett Methvin to make it second and third with two out. R. Bertram came through again, this time with a two RBI single to right center to increase the lead to 5-1.

Copeland continued to mow down the Wildcats as he was in complete control. Senior Jay Lutz added some insurance in the bottom of the 4th with a solo shot over the left field fence to go on top 6-1.

It was all Copeland needed, as he cruised to the win in seven innings, improving to 4-0 on the year and picking up his fourth complete game this season. He only allowed two hits on the afternoon to go with three strikeouts and one earned run in the victory.

R. Bertram was terrific, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs while Methvin and Bohannon each added two hits. Junior Dustin Varnado picked up two stolen bases in the win.

Neither team really got anything going in the first two innings of the second game, but a RBI triple for Louisiana College gave them a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. The Wildcats looked to add more as they had first and third with one out, but a 5-4-3 double play started by R. Bertram ended the inning.

LeTourneau responded with a sacrifice fly from Bohannon and a RBI single from C. Bertram for the 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats loaded the bases in the fourth and got one run in to tie the game. With one out, Louisiana College hit a fly ball to right field where Lutz recorded the out and fired a rocket to home plate to nail the runner at home and end the inning with the game tied at two.

Neither team could get much of anything going as pitchers Josh Lang of LC and freshman Josh Gimre of LeTourneau engaged in a great battle throughout the later parts of the game.

However, the Wildcats got a run across the board in the eighth off of a balk call and took the 3-2 lead. This time, the Jackets could not respond as they dropped the game and the series.

Gimre took the loss despite a fantastic performance in relief, pitching five innings, allowing only two hits and striking out five. Lang got the win with a complete game. Sophomore Caleb Pritchett got the start and despite four walks, struck out four batters and allowed only two runs on three hits. Sophomore Ben Boles also saw relief action, coming in on a bases loaded jam and pitching his way out of it.

Offensively, the Jackets scattered six hits from numerous different hitters, but could never put together the big innings they were looking for. Bohannon and C. Bertram each had RBI singles.

The Jackets will go to Centenary on Tuesday for a weekday game slated for 6 p.m. They will then hit the road and travel to Clinton, Miss. for a three game series with the Mississippi College Choctaws.