LONGVIEW, Texas – For the second straight weekend, the LeTourneau University baseball team would pick up a doubleheader sweep by taking two games over visiting Schreiner University by score of 4-3 and 5-4 at Conrad-Vernon Field in Longview, Texas on Saturday, March 2nd.
 
LETU now sits one game above .500 at 7-6 overall while the Mountaineers slipped to 3-11 overall after dropping the final two games of this weekend's three-game series.
 
"Pitching is what kept us in the games this weekend and we had a lot of opportunities offensively throughout the day" Said head coach Robin Harriss in a post-game interview. "We had some big clutch hits, but our pitching was great with only five walks and 26 strikeouts over the weekend." "Andrew Harlan was a big part of the day by throwing a complete game in the first game, but our whole pitching staff really stepped up and kept Schreiner in check throughout the day."
 
How It Happened (Game 1):

• Offenses for both teams would be held in check through the first two innings of play as a Brandon Ramirez single in the bottom of the first would be the only hit for either squad early on.
• After being held hitless for the first two innings of play, Schreiner would utilize a leadoff double in the top of the third to plate the first run of the game as part of a two-run inning off three hits.
• LeTourneau would be unable to respond in the bottom of the third, allowing the Mountaineers to add to their lead in the top of the fourth with a run thanks in part to a YellowJacket fielding error, but strand two runners which would ultimately prove costly.
• LETU would manage to get one run back in the bottom of the inning by using a leadoff single from Bryce Brueggemeyer and RBI double from Cody Lee to trail by a score of 3-1 going to the fifth inning.
• A quick one-two-three inning from Harlan would allow LETU to get back to the plate and use a Kyle Guevara leadoff double to spark a two-run inning with a fielding error and balk bringing in the runs to tie things at 3-3.
• Schreiner would once again go down in order in the sixth, allowing LeTourneau to come back up to bat where the YellowJackets would get a leadoff single and manage to plate a run on a fielder's choice as pinch-runner Jayden Banks would score when the Mountaineers would be unable to turn an inning-ending double play.
• Harlan would be sent back out to try and finish the complete game, which he would do by retiring Schreiner in order to finish the game by retiring the final 10 batters he faced.

Key Stats:

• LeTourneau would double up the Mountaineers 8-4 in hits and take advantage of five stolen bases in the game to move runners into scoring position.
• Senior Lee Hosie would help carry the load in the contest by stealing two bases and driving in two runs in addition to scoring once despite not recording a hit in the game.
• Harlan's efficient outing came with three strikeouts and facing just six batters over the minimum while allowing four hits and walking two batters.

How It Happened (Game 2):

• LETU wouldn't have to play the role of coming from behind in game two as the YellowJackets jumped out to an early lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first to score one run on a Lee Walk to score Brueggemeyer but would lead the bases loaded after seeing all three outs in the inning come via strikeout.
• Hitting woes would carry over from game one for Schreiner as the YellowJackets would allow just one hit through two innings of play, while collecting four hits in the bottom of the second to score three runs with Jacob Jones delivering a two RBI single.
• The score would remain 4-0 in favor of LeTourneau until the top of the fourth when the Mountaineers would use a sacrifice fly to push across one run and cut into the YellowJacket lead before adding a second run in the top of the fifth to knock out LETU starter Raul Martinez.
• With the YellowJacket offense facing issues of their own, Schreiner would threaten to take the lead in the top of the sixth by putting their first four batters aboard but manage to score only one more run after a bases-loaded walk by stranding two runners and failing to score after tying things at 4-4.
• LeTourneau would manage to reclaim the lead at 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh by taking advantage of two Schreiner errors with Banks coming around to score again by beating the throw home on a fielder's choice.
• Despite taking the lead, LETU would wind up leaving the bases loaded and be unable to add any insurance runs against a potent Mountaineer offense.
• The YellowJackets would work around a one-out single from Schreiner in the top of the eighth but come up empty themselves in the bottom half of the inning despite putting another potential insurance run just 90 feet away from scoring.
•  One last call to the bullpen proved to the right choice for LeTourneau as Kolton Eberlan would come in and slam the door shut on a comeback by Schreiner as the sophomore would strike out the first two batters he faced before getting a flyout to end the game and earn his first save of the year.

Key Stats:

• The one-run victory would come in similar fashion to game one as LETU would outhit Schreiner 9-6 and be forced to overcome scoring just one run in the final seven innings of play.
• Five total pitchers would be used in the game for LeTourneau, with Konner Gayle picking up his second win of the year after tossing 2.1 innings and allowing just one hit while striking out three.
• LETU's nine hits would be scattered among five players with Hosie, Brueggemeyer, Jones, and Guevara all collecting two hits.

What's Next?
American Southwest Conference action resumes for LeTourneau with a second trip to Abilene, Texas with McMurry University awaiting the YellowJackets. LETU will start their series with the War Hawks with a single-game on Friday, March 8th at 7 p.m. and will be followed up with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The series will serve as the ASC opening set for McMurry.