RICHARDSON, Texas – The LeTourneau University softball team saw the game-tying run come to the plate in the late stages of both games, but could not come through with a clutch hit in 4-2 and 7-5 losses at the University of Texas-Dallas at the UTD Softball Field in Richardson, Texas on Friday, March 30th.
 
LETU is now 7-18 overall and 5-16 in the American Southwest Conference while the Comets improved to 14-11 overall and 10-5 in the highly competitive ASC.
 
Game One:
After getting shutout on Thursday evening, the YellowJackets would give up a single run two hits to fall behind early in game one before taking their first lead of the series on a Bailey Woodard one-out home run in the top of the second. The Comets would respond with a single run in the bottom of the second, but leave the bases loaded as a groundout to third got LeTourneau out of the jam with the score knotted at 2-2.
 
UTD tacked on a single run for the third straight inning in the bottom of the third to reclaim a one-run lead at 3-2 and then take their largest lead of the game at 4-2 on a two-out RBI single in the fourth. LETU put a runner on with two outs in the fifth, but couldn't get anything going offensively before being retired in order in the sixth which left the YellowJackets down to their final three outs. Following a groundout, Woodard would get on base with a single to start the top of the seventh, but see a foul out to the catcher put LETU down to their final out. A walk and hit batter loaded the bases and put the go-ahead run at first, but the YellowJackets failed to capitalize as a fly out ended the game.
 
Two of LeTourneau's four hits came from the bat of Woodard, while freshman Ethel Warren would collect the other two hits. Hana Bonner and Amber Fillbrandt each drew one walk for the YellowJackets, with Kelsi Coleman earning her way on base after being hit by a pitch. Julie Martinez (1-7) and Ashley Burdine split time in the circle, with each pitcher throwing three innings. The pair would combine to strike out two batters while allowing a total of 10 hits.
 
Game Two:
Offensive production picked up for both squads in the series finale, with the Comets jumping out to a 3-0 lead after one inning of play before taking a 5-1 lead into the fourth inning. The three-run first for Texas-Dallas came on just one hit and two walks to go along with an error and two stolen bases. LeTourneau managed to cut into the lead by getting one run back in the top of the second with Fillbrandt hitting a one-out double before a Jacie Gilbert RBI single down the right field line got the YellowJackets on the scoreboard.
 
Folloiwing a two-run third inning on a two-RBI single for UT-Dallas to make the score 5-1, LETU scored a pair of their own in the top of the fourth by taking advantage of a two-out error by the Comet first baseman. A Macey Mize solo home run in the top of the fifth cut further into the UTD lead to make the score 5-4, but a two-run bottom of the fifth by Texas-Dallas pushed the deficit back to three runs for LeTourneau as both runs would score with two outs in the inning.
 
LETU saw two of their first three batters reach base in the top of the sixth to bring game-tying run to the plate with one out, but Texas-Dallas once again found a way to get timely outs when they needed them most by getting a strikeout and line out to end the inning with runners on first and second. The YellowJackets would appear to grab some momentum to lead off the top of the seventh with a solo home run from Ashlin Roach, but it would be all that the LeTourneau offense could muster while falling two runs short of tying the game.
 
Gilbert led all players in the game with three hits, going a perfect three-for-three while driving in one run and scoring once. Roach also collected multiple hits in the game for LETU, while Warren, Mize, Fillbrandt, and Hayley Anguiano each had one hit. Fillbrandt started in the circle for the YellowJackets, throwing the first 4.2 innings and allowing seven runs (four earned) while striking out two. Martinez closed out the final one and one-third innings, allowing just two hits to the six batters she faced.
 
LeTourneau will return home for a three-game series next weekend as part of NCAA Division III Week and 2018 LETU Homecoming and Family Weekend. The YellowJackets will host the University of the Ozarks starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6th for an ASC doubleheader at the LETU Softball Field.