BELTON, Texas – Errors would be the story of the night for the LeTourneau University softball team, dropping their American Southwest Conference opening doubleheader to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor by scores of 4-3 and 9-4 at Dee Dillon Field in Belton, Texas on Thursday, February 15th.
 
The losses puts LETU at 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the ASC while the Cru improved to 5-1 and 2-0 in conference.
 
Game 1
In the series opener, LeTourneau would take a three-run lead heading into the fourth inning before seeing UMHB break out for four runs on three YellowJacket errors as each team would be limited on the offensive side of things to scoring in just one inning. LETU would strand base-runners in both the first and second innings, but would see the top of the lineup come back around in the top of the third with a one-out walk by Ashlin Roach followed by a groundout put a runner on second with two outs. An error by Cru pitcher Hannah Halepaska put runners on the corners for sophomore Shelby Barrick who would come through with an RBI infield single. After Barrick would steal second, freshman Katelyn Trombley would single to right field and drive in two runs as all three YellowJacket runs in the inning were unearned.
 
Mary Hardin-Baylor would have just one hit through three innings, but manage to get on the board in the fourth by collecting a leadoff single and fielder's choice before a second single put runners on the corners with one out. An error on a throw down to second allowed for UMHB to pull back within two at 3-1 when a Kasi Cummings double brought in another run which prompted defensive changes for LeTourneau. The damage would not be done as a two-out error and walk made way for a two RBI single by Makenzi Dawson which gave the Cru their first lead of the game at 4-3.
 
UMHB would work around a one-out walk in the fifth with an inning-ending double play and retire LETU in order in the sixth to maintain their one-run lead as the YellowJackets would be down to their final opportunity. LeTourneau would put the game-tying run aboard with one out in the top of the seventh, but see a strikeout and flyout to center field end the game with UMHB earning the come-from-behind victory.
 
Trombley, along with Hana Bonner each had two hits in the game with all six hits for LETU coming as singles. The YellowJackets would strike out only twice, but could not find a way bring home any of the four runners that they stranded in the game.
 
Ashley Burdine would take the loss in relief, falling to 0-2 on the season after throwing 2.2 innings and allowing one run on three hits. Starter Julie Martinez would go three and one-third innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and striking out two.  
 
Game 2
The nightcap would see LeTourneau fall in an early deficit that they could never recover from as Mary Hardin-Baylor would plate four runs in the bottom of the second and tack on a run in the third before pushing across two more in both the fifth and sixth innings. All four LETU runs would come in the top of the sixth as the YellowJackets would close the gap to 7-4, but saw the long ball make the difference for the Cru.
 
Momentum from game one carried over for UMHB to start game two, setting down LETU in order before putting a runner on with one out in the bottom of the first. LeTourneau would work around the runner as well as an error that allowed for a second base-runner to escape the inning unscathed and keep the game scoreless through one.
 
Bonner would collect the first YellowJacket hit of the game in the second inning with a one-out single, but would be erased on an inning-ending double play for the Cru as LeTourneau would have just one hit through the first four innings of play. Leading off the bottom of the second, Mary Hardin-Baylor would see leadoff batter Linsey Tomlinson connect on a pitch over the center field fence for a solo home run before a one out double and two out walk put two runners on with two outs. An RBI double would make the score 2-0 in favor of UMHB before a second consecutive hit would drive home two more runs and break the game open with Mary Hardin-Baylor leading 4-0 after two innings.
 
Things would lead bleak for LETU in the bottom of the third as UMHB would plate a run on a one-out single before loading the bases with two outs and Cru catcher Emily Bounds up to the dish. The two-hole hitter would wind up flying out to center field as Mary Hardin-Baylor left the bases loaded in the third which allowed for the YellowJackets to avoid an even larger deficit heading to the fourth.
 
Neither team would break through in the fourth inning before LeTourneau would finally start to get the offense going in the top of the fifth. Following a Macey Mize leadoff single, Barrick would hit a one-out infield single to put two runners on and a chance to cut into the UMHB lead, but a popout and strikeout ended the opportunity for LETU and killed any potential swing in momentum.
 
A Mary Hardin-Baylor one-out double would put two runners in scoring position, as the Cru would collect a two RBI double from Dawson to open up a 7-0 lead and threaten to end the game early before the YellowJackets would get out of the inning and be left with a tall task with just two innings left to work.
 
A wild sixth-inning saw senior Kelsi Coleman lead off with a single to left field before Roach and Ethel Warren would both draw walks to load the bases and no one out for LeTourneau with Trombley up to bat. A fielder's choice followed by flyout to right field would quickly change the inning to the bases loaded with two outs when a wild pitch allowed for Coleman to come home and put a run on the board for LETU. Bonner would drive home Warren on an RBI single before Jacie Gilbert doubled to left field which brought home two more runs after an error by the Cru left fielder. A pitching change for Mary Hardin-Baylor would be countered by pinch-hitter Taylor MacKenzie for LeTourneau, who would draw a walk to bring the game-tying run to the plate. UMHB would manage to escape the inning with a groundout as LETU would score four runs on four hits and one error in the inning.
 
Breathing room for the Cru would be added in the bottom half of the sixth as a one-out walk would be followed up with a two-out home run which would make the score 9-4 in favor of UMHB. LeTourneau would be unable to put a runner on in the seventh, going down in order.
 
A total of seven hits would be had by LeTourneau in game two, with Bonner the only YellowJacket to record multiple hits in the game. LETU's only extra-base hit of the game would come from Gilbert, who would go one-for-one at the dish with an RBI.
 
Faith Genoway fell to 1-1 on the season after throwing 3.0 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits while issuing two free passes and striking out four. Burdine would make her second appearance of the day, tossing the final three innings and allowing four runs on four hits.
 
LETU will look to bounce back against UMHB tomorrow in game three of their conference opening series First pitch in game three is slated for 12 p.m.