LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJackets closed the 2013 season at the LETU Softball Complex on Monday afternoon as they welcomed in the No. 3 team in the nation, the UT-Tyler Patriots. LeTourneau put forward a great effort against one of the top ranked teams, but fell short, losing 8-1 and 3-0.

In the first game, the Jackets got runners on first and third with no out due to a pair of Patriots (34-2, 19-1 ASC) errors. Freshman Shelby Borders doubled down the right field line to score senior Juliana Tuel and take a 1-0 lead. Despite the hot start, it was all the Jackets (20-16, 7-12 ASC) could get going in the inning.

UT-Tyler erupted in the third for four runs on only three hits and then added three more in fifth to pull ahead 7-1. LeTourneau did not have a response as the Patriots took game one.

Junior Kelli Parton took the loss, only pitching three innings while freshman Karen Kubacak added four innings of relief work. 

Offensively, Borders was 2-for-3 with a RBI while juniors Jourdan Glover and sophomore Brooklyn Greene each added a hit.

In the second game, UT-Tyler jumped all over the Jackets, scoring three runs in the first inning to take the advantage and keep the momentum rolling. However, LeTourneau would not go down quiietly.

The Jackets got runners on first and second in the third, but could not get a run home. They then got runners on first and third with one out, but excellent defense from the Patriots including a brilliant throw to gun down a Jacket runner at home kept LeTourneau off the board. From there, UT-Tyler hung on and picked up the 3-0 win.

Junior Kaylee Pritchett was outstanding in slowing down one of the best hitting teams in the country. She pitched 6.1 innings in relief, only allowing two hits and striking out four while allowing no walks. Junior Taylor Thibodeaux took the loss for LeTourneau.

Offensively, the Jackets outhit the Patriots in game two, 6-4, as they were led by freshman Megan Hill who was 2-for-3. Glover, Pritchett, freshman Danielle Cotton, and junior Anna Winter all added hits.

LeTourneau has their final four games on the road beginning with a pair of games in Clinton, Miss. on Wednesday as they take on the Mississippi College Choctaws. First pitch of a doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.