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MARSHALL, Texas – Following a thrilling 8-7, nine-inning win over Texas-Dallas Thursday night, the LeTourneau University softball team would be held scoreless to drop a 1-0 decision to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the double-elimination portion of the 2019 American Southwest Conference Softball Tournament at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas on Friday, May 3rd.
 
LETU falls to 24-16 overall with the defeat and will play against an opponent to be determined at 4 p.m. later today in an ASC Tournament elimination game. UMHB improved to 27-14 overall and advances into the ASC Tournament semifinal round scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening.
 
Facing off against the Crusaders for the fourth time this season, the YellowJackets would find themselves in a pitcher's duel as each team would record one hit in the first inning before seeing the next two innings go hitless as part of a scoreless game through three innings. A leadoff single for Katelyn Trombley in the top of the fourth would be erased on a runner leaving early, but LETU would be able to work around a two-out single from UMHB to keep things deadlocked at zero heading to the fifth-inning.
 
LeTourneau would threaten to break through in the top of the fifth by getting a leadoff single from Ashley Crawford before Kennedi Dillow would be hit by pitch with two outs in the inning and Macey Mize would draw a walk to load the bases. The threat would be averted by Mary Hardin-Baylor as a lineout ended the inning to strand all three base runners in what proved to be the best opportunity of the contest for LETU to push a run across.
 
Only one hit from either team would be seen over the duration of the next two innings of play as LeTourneau and UMHB would remain scoreless through six and a half innings with just six total hits prior to the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff double for the Crusaders and throwing error would put runners on first and second with no outs before a sacrifice bunt moved both runners 60 feet closer to home and the game-ending run at third. Trying to extend the game, LETU would be unable to do so as a base right through the right side of the infield would allow the Cru to take their first win of the season over the YellowJackets as LeTourneau would be shut out for just the second time this season.
 
The four hits for LETU would come off the bats of Trombley (two), Crawford, and Haydn Parker as Mize would draw three walks in the game as part of five total free passes for the YellowJackets. Starting pitcher Leigh Luker would toss a complete game, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out one batter of the 25 she faced.
 
Game Two (Later Today):
LeTourneau now awaits the loser of Hardin-Simmons University and East Texas Baptist for a 4 p.m. elimination game as the Cowgirls and Tigers will face off at 1 p.m. Regardless of who LETU plays, it will mark the first-ever postseason contest between the two teams as LeTourneau will seek their fifth ASC Tournament victory in just their fourth postseason appearance. The YellowJackets did not play HSU in the regular-season and dropped a three-game series to ETBU in Marshall with the Tigers winning, 2-1, 6-2, and 6-2.