ABILENE, Texas - Despite scoring eight of their 10 runs in the final three innings of play, the LeTourneau University baseball team would fall to Hardin-Simmons University by a final of 12-10 at Hunter Field in Abilene, Texas on Friday, March 2nd.
LETU falls to 5-5 overall and 0-1 in the American Southwest Conference while the Cowboys improved to 4-6 overall and 3-1 in the ASC.
The YellowJacket pitching staff would struggle throughout, as sophomore
Haden Simmons would take the loss after throwing one inning in relief and allowing seven runs (three earned) on five hits.
Andrew Harlan started the game for LeTourneau, throwing 3.2 innings and allowing just one run while striking out two before
Ryder Lognion would toss two and one-third scoreless innings.
Kolton Eberlan would also pitch for LETU, giving up two runs on three hits in one inning of work.
Offensively, the YellowJackets would be led by a three-for-three performance from senior
Carson Dickey along with a four-for-five performance from
Will Bradshaw. Bradshaw also managed to drive in a game-high four runs while scoring twice, with Dickey and Bradshaw collecting LETU's only two extra-base hits of the game.
LeTourneau would take a 1-0 lead after two innings of play, and hold their lead until the bottom of the fourth when HSU would break out for three runs on two hits and one error. The YellowJackets would get one run back in the top of the fifth, using a Bradshaw leadoff single to plate a run following a
Noah Mahoney two-out single and trail by a score of 3-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth.
Things appeared to be going the route of a low-scoring pitcher's duel heading to the seventh when LETU would reclaim the lead with a four-run inning, taking advantage of two walks and a wild pitch to be paired with a trio of hits and one error to reclaim the lead at 6-3. Hardin-Simmons responded in the bottom of the seventh by scoring two runs on three hits, with the second run coming on a wild pitch with two outs, but left a the game-tying runner stranded at third as LeTourneau would retain their lead going into the eighth inning.
Problems would ensue in the bottom of the eighth as the Cowboys would plate seven runs on five hits and take advantage of two LETU errors, with four of the seven runs coming as unearned runs. LeTourneau didn't go quietly in the ninth, looking to erase the six-run deficit by putting three of their first four batters on-base to bring up Bradshaw who would clear the bases with a grand slam to cut the lead to 12-10. It would not be enough however as HSU would get a strikeout to end the game and earn the game one victory.
LeTourneau and Hardin-Simmons will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 3rd starting at 12 p.m. from Hunter Field. Game one will consist of a seven-inning game before a nine-inning game in game two.
