TYLER - The LeTourneau YellowJacket baseball team came into Saturday, needing a pair of wins to clinch a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament. However, things did not go quite how the Jackets expected as the 13th ranked Texas-Tyler Patirots took a pair of low scoring games, 1-0 (7) and 2-1. 

In the first games, UT-Tyler (28-8, 12-3 ASC) got the first inning started with a double and eventually scored the first run on a groundout for the 1-0 lead.

From there, sophomore Cody Whitley was phenomenal, pitching a beautiful game for the Jackets (18-15, 8-10 ASC)  in the shortened seven inning game.

LeTourneau looked to shake things up in the second, getting a pair of runners on first and second with one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.

Senior Jay Lutz then led the fourth inning off on a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt; however, again the Jackets could not get the run home and remained down 1-0.

The Jackets were able to get Lutz on again in the seventh thanks to a single, but again, the Patriots shut the door down and picked up the 1-0 victory.

Whitley was fantastic, pitching six innings and only allowing one run on four hits while striking out one. Offensively, the Jackets outhit UT-Tyler 5-4, but did not have any runs to show for it. Lutz led the way, going 2-for-3.

In the second game, it was a pitching duel between junior Curt Copeland and and Tyler's Jack Barkley. Neither team could get anything going throughout the first five innings.

Senior Brent Sellers got on base in the sixth via an error with two outs and then proceeded to steal second base. Moments later, senior Rhett Bohannon drove in Sellers for a 1-0 lead in what seemed like it would be enough to take a victory.

Copeland continued to cruise, but UT-Tyler finally struck in the eighth to make tie things at one.

The Jackets had a chance to get it back in the ninth, getting runners at first and second and one out, but the Tyler pitching staff held strong to keep the game tied. 

Copeland came through and pushed the game to extras where LeTourneau loaded the bases up with one out in the 10th, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning. The Patriots then got a walk off homer in the bottom half to take the 2-1 win and the sweep.

Copeland was phenomenal, pitching nine full innings and allowing two runs on eight hits. He falls to 7-2 on the season despite the great effort.

Offensively, the Jackets got seven hits led by junior Bryce Griffin who was 2-for-4 on the afternoon. LeTourneau drove the ball well, but outstanding defense by the Patriots kept the Jackets from putting more runs on the board.

The Jackets complete ASC play with an 8-10 record with still one week left. They await a huge series between UT-Dallas and East Texas Baptist where the Jackets need the Comets to sweep the Tigers to make the postseason.

LeTourneau will still be in action during that time. They conclude their home season on Tuesday as they welcome in the University of Dallas. First pitch of a doubleheader is set for 5 p.m.