TYLER, Texas - Coming off five-straight wins to start the season, the LeTourneau University softball team faced their toughest task thus far in a doubleheader against the reigning American Southwest Conference champions as they fell in both games to the University of Texas-Tyler on Wednesday, February 20th.

LETU falls to 5-2 on the season while the Patriots remain undefeated as they move to a perfect 7-0. The games do not count towards American Southwest Conference standings as the two teams were not scheduled to play in a conference series this year. This is the final year for the Patriots in the ASC as Texas-Tyler is in the first year of NCAA division II reclassification. 

Game one:
Leigh Luker would get the nod for her fourth start in the circle for the YellowJackets as she gave up one run off two hits in the opening inning of play. The Patriots would use one more hit in the bottom of the second to extend their lead to 2-0. With the score remaining at 2-0 in favor of the Patriots, Kennedi Dillow would reach base to start the top of the fourth off a Patriot error before a Macey Mize double would bring her home. Following a walk and a bunt-single, Hana Bonner would put her team on top with a two-RBI double to the right field wall. Ashley Crawford would bring another run across with a single through the left side while fellow freshman Emilee Anderson would extend the lead to 5-2 before a strikeout would end the inning. UTT would then respond with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth until they would eventually take the lead in the fifth by scoring eight runs off four hits. Dillow would put some life into the LETU offense as she brought in Anderson off a single to left center in the top of the seventh to keep the LETU rally going. A one-out bases-loaded walk would be the final run of the game for the YellowJackets before the Patriots defense would cut the comeback short ending the game with a double play and taking game one by an 11-7 tally.

Samantha Akers would take her first loss of the season in the circle for the YellowJackets as she gave up four runs in one inning of work. The Patriots out-hit LETU 11-8 while also committing two errors, as the LETU defense would turn in an error-free game. Bonner and Dillow would both record two hits for the YellowJackets while four others would add to the total with one hit each.

Game two:
The YellowJackets would begin game two, stranding one runner in the top of the first after Ethel Warren reached on a leadoff walk. With Freshman Bailey Richey in the circle for LETU, the Patriots would use three doubles in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead. Following a three-up, three-down top of the second inning from the YellowJackets, Texas-Tyler kept their foot on the pedal and scored 15 runs off 13 hits and one LETU error as the YellowJackets would try four different pitchers to stop the rally. UTT would add to their total with an RBI in the fourth inning to make it 18-0 before Bonner would get LeTourneau on the board in the top of the fifth with a solo homerun over the right center field fence. The game would end after five innings as the early surge by Texas-Tyler would end the game with LETU trailing 18-1.

Richey took the loss for LETU, giving up eight runs in one inning of work. Bonner, Brianna Diaz and Taylor Nichols would be the only three YellowJackets to record hits in the contest. Whitney Romero took the win for the Patriots, giving up one hit in four innings of work.
 
What's Next?
LETU will return to conference action this weekend with a three-game series against Concordia Texas beginning with a 5 p.m. doubleheader scheduled for Friday, February 26th. The Tornados will enter the series with a 4-5 overall record and a 1-2 standing in the ASC. If weather forces any schedule changes to this weekend's series, an official announcement will be made on www.letuathletics.com.