MARSHALL, Texas - Holding a 2-1 lead prior to an hour-long weather delay, the LeTourneau University softball team would see host and number three-nationally ranked East Texas Baptist University break out for four runs following the delay in a 6-2 defeat at Taylor Field in Marshall, Texas on Saturday, April 6th.
LETU slips to 17-13 overall and 14-10 in the American Southwest Conference with the defeat while the Tigers improved to 30-1 overall and remain perfect in conference play at 21-0.
The long ball would be working early for the YellowJackets as
Haydn Parker would break a scoreless deadlock in the top of the second with a leadoff home run to left field to give LeTourneau a 1-0 lead. LETU would look to add more in the top of the second, but see a run cut down at the plate on a double-steal and strand two runners before allowing the game-tying run to ETBU in the bottom of the second.
Taylor Nichols had alternative plans for a tie ball game as the freshman would connect on her second solo home run of the weekend to lead off the top of the third inning as the YellowJackets would reclaim a one-run lead at 2-1. LeTourneau would then work out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the third as two strikeouts and a groundout allowed LETU to hold their lead going to the fourth.
Both teams would squander opportunities over the next few innings of play as each team stranded a total of three base runners between the fourth and fifth innings with the YellowJackets stranding two more runners in the top of the sixth.
Lightning would make its way into the area prior to the bottom of the sixth to force a delay, which would give East Texas Baptist time to regroup with the YellowJackets holding a one-run lead. Out of the delay, ETBU would strike for five runs on two hits and two LeTourneau errors as five of the first six batters of the inning would safely reach base to break open a 6-2 lead going to the seventh.
In their final opportunity of the game, LETU would put their leadoff batter aboard before seeing the Tigers set down the next three batters in order to hang on for the win.
Splitting time in the circle, the YellowJackets would use
Bailey Richey (2.0 innings) and
Samantha Akers (4.0 innings) in the contest with the two pitchers combining for four strikeouts. Recording six hits in the game, LETU would see their hits scattered across six players. Nine runners would be stranded in the game by LeTourneau while East Texas Baptist stranded nine runners of their own.
What's Next?
LETU returns to action next weekend at home with a three-game series against Texas-Dallas. The series will get underway with a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, April 12th and will see the series finale take place on Saturday, April 13th at 1 p.m. as part of homecoming and family weekend 2019.
