Despite having a hit in each inning, the LeTourneau softball team was kept off the scoreboard in a 5-0 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday evening.

The game time temperature was 30 degrees with snow flurries filling the air; however, it was a four run first inning and an additional run in the second by the Cru that proved to be the difference in the contest.

LeTourneau (9-4, 3-3 ASC) had the lead-off batter reach base in the first six innings en route to stranding 11 runners on base in the loss. In relief of starter Courtney Matulis, Kaylee Pritchett came in to silence the UMHB bats. Pritchett did just that, surrendering just three hits and striking out two over the final six innings of the game for the YellowJackets.

Mary Hardin-Baylor (4-2, 3-1 ASC) scored four times on four hits as the Cru sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning. Two of the four runs came in on a two-RBI single by Kelsey Vann. The Cru added one in the second when Leah Brown drove in Amelia Cluke from first on a single that was misplayed by LETU to take a 5-0 lead. The Cru had nine hits with eight players contributing in the win.

UMHB starting pitcher Haley Parker went the distance for the shutout, allowing seven hits and striking out four in the win to improve to 2-0. Trailing 5-0, LeTourneau had a pair of base runners in the final four innings in an attempt to spoil the shutout bid by Parker. The Bryan, Texas native got a pair of groundouts and picked up a key strikeout in the sixth to preserve her first shutout of the season.
 
The two teams will wrap up the weekend series with a doubleheader at 11 a.m. at the LETU Softball Complex.