MARSHALL, Texas – LeTourneau University's baseball team split a doubleheader at East Texas Baptist Tuesday night, dropping the first game, 9-0, and winning the nightcap, 10-7, in a wild finish.
It was LeTourneau's season debut after weather canceled the first two weeks of the season. It was also the first time the YellowJackets have played since March 7, 2020. It was the first meeting versus East Texas Baptist since April 6, 2019, albeit this time in a nonconference matchup.
The YellowJackets (1-1) rallied for eight runs in the top of the seventh in the second game, scoring twice on wild pitches after the Tigers (3-2) took a five-run lead into the last inning.
Anthony Ybarra walked with the bases loaded to pull LETU within 7-3.
Kyle Maysonave scored on a wild pitch.
Carter Amarantos had a two-single to right to make it 7-6.
Kameron Lindsey scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Noah Arellano singled home Amarantos for the go-ahead run.
Lane Williams' two-run double to right-center added insurance runs for the Jackets.
LETU newcomer
Ethan Stubanas worked the final 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win on the mound.
Weston McKinley went 2-for-3 with a home run, and
Cody Stanley was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Jackets in the nightcap.
Stanley put the Jackets on the board first in the second inning when his single to left scored McKinley, who was hit by a pitch. ETBU scored twice in its half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Tigers tacked on two more in the fourth, and three in the sixth to build a 7-2 lead.
But the YellowJackets scored eight runs on five hits in their final at-bat as the Tigers made four calls to the bullpen in the inning. The Jackets sent 12 batters to the plate in the seventh, and were helped by a hit batsmen, three walks, two wild pitches and a balk.
After ETBU's Jake Miller tripled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, Stubanas struck out the next three batters he faced to preserve the comeback.
LeTourneau starter
Zac Schneider allowed two runs on one hit, three walks and a hit batsmen in two innings of work.
Jedidiah Crone pitched three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, one hit and a walk, while striking out two. ETBU reliever Sayers Collins took the loss after giving up two runs, a hit and a walk in a third of an inning.
East Texas Baptist homered five times in the opener. Arellano and Williams each went 1-for-3, accounting for LeTourneau's two hits in the first game.
ETBU middle reliever Jacob Sherman won the first game, giving up no runs, a hit and a walk, while fanning five in three innings. LETU starter
Kolton Eberlan took the loss after surrendering four runs, three hits and two walks, while striking out three in two innings.
The YellowJackets will open American Southwest Conference play at Mary Hardin-Baylor 3 p.m. Friday.
