GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Behind a four-hit, four RBI performance by senior first baseman Gonzalo Sosa, the LeTourneau University baseball team bounced back in a big way to defeat Hardin-Simmons University by a final score of 8-4 at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, TX on Sunday, February 11th. 

With opening weekend complete, LeTourneau improves to 2-1 overall with the win as today's game was a non-conference game against the Cowboys. HSU falls to 1-2 with the loss with all three games coming at the Rusty Greer/Jackie Moore Collegiate Classic. 

Outside of a three-run first inning and a single run in the bottom of the seventh, the YellowJacket pitching staff limited Hardin-Simmons to just five hits spread out through the other seven innings while collecting eight hits of their own and taking advantage of two HSU errors. 

LETU would have a chance to jump out to an early lead in the top of the first, but would strand two runners as HSU would escape the inning unscathed. The Cowboys would make the most of their first opportunity at the plate, with the first three batters in the bottom of the first reaching base safely which included a double down the left field line by three-hole hitter Taylor Cooling. Following an RBI groundout and sacrifice fly, the YellowJackets would be able to get out of the inning without any more damage done despite a throwing error allowing another Cowboy runner to safely reach base. 

A one-two-three top of the second saw LeTourneau unable to respond from the three-run first that HSU put up, but would hold Hardin-Simmons scoreless in the bottom of the second to keep the deficit at three with the top of the lineup due up in the third. Nine-hole hitter Josh Raies would lead off the inng with a single and advance to second on a wild pitch before fellow senior Carson Dickey moved him over to third on a groundout. Sosa then collected his second single of the afternoon to drive in Raies before Bubba Valdez flew out to center field to leave LETU with a runner on first and two outs in the inning. A throwing error allowed for Sosa to come around all the way from first and score to make the score 3-2 in favor of Hardin-Simmons, but that would be all that LeTourneau could get in the inning. 

Starting pitcher Luke Ludwig would work around a pair of walks in the bottom of the third to keep the deficit at one and momentum building in favor of LeTourneau for the middle innings. Raies would drive home Will Bradshaw who led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a groundout and wild pitch which tied the game at three before seeing Dickey walk to put a runner on with two outs in the inning. Sosa kept his hot bat going by hitting a double down the line that would score Dickey, but would be thrown out at third to end the inning with LETU on top 4-3. 

Things would quiet down until the bottom of the fifth when HSU would threaten to re-take the lead by putting runners on first and second with a pair of two-out singles, but a groundout to Sosa would end the inning and keep the YellowJackets up one run. 

The top of the sixth inning is where LeTourneau would break the game open, scoring four runs on two hits while taking advantage of two walks, a wild pitch, and passed ball as Sosa would hit a two-RBI triple on his fourth hit of the game. The passed ball allowed for Sosa to come home and make the score 8-3 before the Cowboys would manage to get out of the inning while facing a five-run deficit. 

Only one more run in the game would be scored as HSU used a one-out walk, wild-pitch and throwing error to cut the LeTourneau lead to 8-4 heading into the final two innings of play. A chance to run away with things would present itself in the top of the eighth for LETU as the YellowJackets would load the bases with just one out, but a pitching change allowed for Hardin-Simmons to get a strike out and groundout to end the threat. No true opportunity presented itself for the Cowboys to mount a comeback in the final two innings as HSU would only record one hit in the final six at-bats. 

Ludwig would pick up the pitching victory after throwing five complete innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five on 88 pitches before making way for Ryder Lognion to make his second relief appearance of the weekend. Lognion tossed three innings and only allowed one run on two hits before Andrew Harlan threw a scoreless ninth. 

Bradshaw added a pair of hits to give LETU two players with multiple hits in the game while Dickey drew three free passes. LeTourneau drew eight total walks in the game and had two extra-base hits compared to only one for the Cowboys. 

The 2018 home opener for the YellowJackets will take place on Friday, February 16th as LETU will host Centenary College at 6 p.m.