LONGVIEW, Texas- Looking for their third American Southwest Conference series win of the year, the LeTourneau University softball team used a 6-0 victory in game one to get the job done before suffering a 6-2 loss in game two to Belhaven University in a Saturday doubleheader at the LETU Softball Field on Saturday, March 16th.
 
The split brings the YellowJackets to 13-8 overall and 10-5 in ASC play while the Blazers sit at 7-12 overall and 5-10 in ASC action.
 
Game one:
A fast-paced pitching duel was seen through the opening three innings of play as just two hits were recorded between the two offenses. The YellowJackets would finally break through in the bottom of the fourth when a sacrifice fly from Macey Mize brought home Kiley Banks who would get on base via a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Ethel Warren would drive in Silver Montgomery from second off an RBI single to left field to make things 2-0 in favor of LETU.
 
LeTourneau would add to their total in the fifth, as Haley Anguiano managed to break for home following a throwdown to second base on a delayed steal by Banks to make it 3-0 while Kennedi Dillow followed things up with an RBI single. The LETU offense rallied again in the bottom half of the sixth as Katelyn Trombley ripped an RBI double to right center to score Haydn Parker and would later score on a Blazer error.
 
Leigh Luker earned her fourth win in the circle this season for the YellowJackets, giving up just three hits while fanning six batters in a complete game shutout. Parker and Taylor Nichols each had a team-high two hits while three other YellowJackets had one.
 
Game Two:
After a lead off base hit in the top of the first, Belhaven would be the first to get on the board by jumping out to a 1-0 lead. LeTourneau would look to knot things up in the second as the first two batters of the inning would successfully reach base to set up a squeeze bunt by Maycie Walton that would bring home a run on a Belhaven error. Walton would also end up making it around the bases on the play as the YellowJackets would go up 2-1 heading to the top of the third. 
 
The Blazers would benefit from an LETU error in the top of the third, tying things up at 2-2 before tacking on two more runs in the fourth with a two-RBI single. Belhaven continued their offense surge into the sixth inning, scoring two more runs off three hits and one LETU error to extend their lead to 6-2.
 
LeTourneau would threaten to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with no outs, but would see a double play and ground out end the game without any runs pushed across to allow the Blazers to win the series finale.
 
Samantha Akers took the loss in the circle for the YellowJackets, giving up five hits and four runs in 3.1 innings of work. Warren and Trombley led the LETU offense with two hits each while only three other YellowJackets would see a base hit. Errors proved to the difference maker in the end as the LETU defense had five total errors, while the Blazers limited their mistakes to just two.

What's Next?
LeTourneau hits the road one final time in the month of march for an ASC series at Louisiana College beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22nd. The series will loom large as the YellowJackets and Wildcats are both currently in the top-four of the ASC standings.