CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas- Closing out their 2019 regular season schedule on the road, the LeTourneau University softball team sailed to a 10-0 victory over the University of the Ozarks in game one of the three-game series but failed to do the same in game two as they suffered an 8-3 loss on Friday, April 19th.

Following the spilt, the YellowJackets move to 23-14 on the season and 18-11 in American Southwest Conference play while the Eagles are now 9-27 on the season and 6-19 in conference action.

Game One:
It was a slow start to the series as neither team was able to get a run across in the opening three innings of play. LeTourneau's Haydn Parker finally broke the scoreless tie with a solo home run to right center field to get the YellowJackets on the board in the top of the fourth in what would be the only run of the inning.

Holding their own on the defensive side of the ball, the LETU offense was able to put up a five-run inning in the top of the fifth. Kennedi Dillow began the spurt with an RBI single up the middle followed by a Macey Mize single of her own to right field to put the YellowJackets up 3-0. An Eagle error brought in Dillow to add to the lead and would be followed up by Katelyn Trombley who brought in two more runs with a two-RBI double to right center field to put LETU up 6-0.

The YellowJackets added to their lead in top half of the seventh frame after Parker sent her second homerun of the game over the left center field fence to put LeTourneau up 8-0. Taylor Nichols would be the final one to add to the total with a two-RBI double to left field.

Bailey Richey finished off the Eagles by striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh to seal a game one victory for the YellowJackets as the freshman struck out nine in the game.

The win gave Richey her ninth win of the season in the circle for the YellowJackets, tossing a complete game while allowing just three hits. LETU out-hit the Eagles 14-3 and would be led by Mize who had a team-high four hits in the contest while three other YellowJackets recorded multiple hits in the contest.

Game Two:
Ozarks jumped on top early in game two, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning making use of two hits and a LeTourneau error.

The Eagles struck again in the bottom half of the fourth frame, using a two-run home run to double their lead and put the YellowJackets in a 4-0 hole. Using four more hits, UO continued their mid-game run by adding four additional runs to go up 8-0 and threaten to end the game early via the eight-run mercy rule.

LeTourneau would chip away at the Eagle lead in top half of the fifth when Mize sent a two-run home run over the center field wall to score Dillow and ensure that the bottom of the fifth would take place. Hana Bonner also managed to hit a round-tripper with a solo home run coming the same in the sixth inning to pull the YellowJackets within five at 8-3.

Despite two hits in the top of the seventh, the LETU offense would be unable to put together a rally to mount a comeback as the Eagles would hold LeTourneau scoreless in the inning to grab game two and force tomorrow's game into a series rubber match.

Leigh Luker took the loss for the YellowJackets allowing two earned runs in 3.1 innings of work. Mize continued her impressive day at the plate in game two with a three-hit performance to lead the YellowJacket offense.

What's Next?
Tomorrow will feature the finale of the three-game series will first pitch set for 12:00 p.m. at the Hurie Softball Field in Clarksville. A win would add to LeTourneau's record-setting season as the YellowJackets have set a single-season win-record for the program's 20-year history and has qualified for the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the fourth-time in school-history.