The LeTourneau University baseball team swept a doubleheader from Castleton, 5-4 (game 1) and 6-3 (game 2) on Tuesday night at Conrad-Vernon Field.
 
LeTourneau (2-2) had eight hits in game one and six in the nightcap but it was a strong night for a pair of local pitchers on the chilly evening. In the opener, senior Justin Jenkins in relief pitched the final 3.1 innings, striking out six for the win. In the nightcap, junior starter Christian Baker picked up where Jenkins left off, allowing three hits and striking out seven in 4.2 innings for the win.
 
Castleton (0-2) came to Texas for the fifth time in six years to face the YellowJackets and other surrounding institutions to begin their season.
 
Game 1 (Box Score)
LeTourneau junior Landon Methvin ended the contest in the bottom of the ninth with his first hit of the season. The YellowJackets' designated hitter hit a single to centerfield, scoring pinch-runner Caemen Mayfield from third for the winning run. Earlier in the inning, back-to-back one-out singles by Taylor Empkey and Caleb Pritchett put runners on the corners for the Longview native to deliver the game-winning hit.
 
Castleton scored two unearned runs in the second inning for an early 2-0 lead. Then, the YellowJackets came back with two runs on three hits including a two-out, two-RBI double by third baseman Rayne Hobbs. Earlier in the inning, Empkey and Dylan Yates started the inning with singles to put runners on first and second. The two moved up a base when Pritchett sacrificed them to second and third, respectively. After a strikeout, Hobbs emptied the bases with a double to centerfield.
 
With the game tied at 2 in the fifth, LETU took advantage of a wild pitch by Castleton to extend the inning. The dropped third strike allowed Bryce Henry to reach base; then Sean Sellers extended his hitting streak to three games with a single. An error on the Sellers single moved the runners to second and third for Kyle Jacobs, who doubled to left field, putting LETU ahead 4-2. Castleton rallied to tie the game in the sixth at 4 after a pair of errors by LETU.
 
Jenkins entered the game in the bottom of the sixth for LeTourneau. The senior right hander made an immediate impact, picking up the first of six strikeouts en route to the win. Castleton stranded a pair of runners in the seventh and eighth inning against Jenkins.
 
Game 2 (Box Score)
A four-run third and two-run fourth was enough support for LETU junior starter Christian Baker as the YellowJackets posted the 6-3 win. In the nightcap, six-different players had a hit and a run, plus four had a RBI in the win.
 
Despite an early 2-0 deficit in the second, the LeTourneau offense exploded for four runs on four hits in the third to take a 4-2 lead. The YellowJackets added to their lead with two runs in the fourth inning. In the fourth, a pair of doubles by Hobbs and Bryce Henry put LETU ahead 5-2. Later in the inning, LETU capitalized on a Castleton error for a 6-2 lead to score Henry. Out of the bullpen, juniors Boone Privette and Josh Gimre pitched the final 2.1 innings, striking out four to preserve the win.
 
Next, LeTourneau will take to the road to face Louisiana College for a three-game series to begin American Southwest Conference play. The Wildcats and YellowJackets will begin the series on Friday with a single game at 6 p.m. in Pineville.