Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The LeTourneau University softball team dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions to No. 4 Texas-Tyler on Saturday in Tyler.

The YellowJackets (10-15, 7-13 ASC) had three hits in game one and two in game two in the doubleheader. LeTourneau starting pitchers Kelli Parton in game one and Courtney Matulis in game two each gave up two runs but held the UT-Tyler offense to eight and six hits, respectively in tough-luck losses.

The Patriots' (25-2, 19-1 ASC) Shelby Shelton had a game-winning RBI in each game for Texas-Tyler.

Game 1
The two teams were scoreless until the ninth inning. LeTourneau took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the ninth when they capitalized on an error by UTT. Taylor Kaderli reached on a walk, she moved to second on a single by Jourdan Glover. With runners on first and second, the Patriots misplayed a ball hit by Anna Winter, scoring Kaderli for a 1-0 lead as the Comets got Glover out on the play.

With a 1-0 lead, back-to-back one out doubles by UT-Tyler tied the game at 1. Following a ground out, with two out and runners on the corners, Shelton delivered a game-winning single for the host Patriots' 2-1 win.

Despite the loss, for the YellowJackets, Parton pitched 8.2 innings, allowing eight hits, two runs and striking out one in the loss.

Texas-Tyler starter Kelsie Batten went 9 innings, allowing three hits and striking out five for the win.

Game 2
For the second straight game, the starting pitching took control of the game and the first run of the game did not come until the fifth when Kierin Stevens for UT-Tyler put the host Patriots ahead 1-0.
A sacrifice fly by Shelby Shelton gave the home team an insurance and unearned run in the sixth.

LeTourneau mounted a threat in the seventh, with two out, Anna Winter hit a solo home run. Then, Megan Hill reached on a walk before a strikeout ended the game and comeback efforts for the YellowJackets.
Winter had both of the hits for the LeTourneau offense. YellowJacket starter Courtney Matulis allowed six hits, two runs – one earned in the loss.

Raven Rodriguez and Jackie Mendez each had two hits to lead a six-hit attack for Texas-Tyler. Alaina Kissinger pitched the complete game, allowing two hits and striking out four in the win.

The two teams will wrap up the weekend series with a noon contest on Sunday.