LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University's baseball team beat Hardin-Simmons, 5-2, Saturday to win its third American Southwest Conference series of the season.
 
It was the second straight series victory for the YellowJackets, who bumped their record to 9-11 overall, 7-5 in the ASC.
 
The Cowboys (5-13, 2-10) loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but LETU closer Jedidiah Crone induced a dribbler down the third base line, tagging out the runner trying to score to end the game. Crone earned his second save of the year, working the final inning, and allowing a hit, no walks and no runs.
 
It was the fourth time Crone has not surrendered a run in relief this season, and the fifth time he hasn't given up an earned run.
 
LETU starter Raul Martinez (2-1) got the win, giving up two runs, six hits and two walks, and striking out a season-high 10 in six innings. Austin Bryan tossed two innings of shutout relief, allowing two hits and a walk, and striking out two for a hold. It was the fifth appearance Bryan has not given up a run.
 
Bryce Brueggemeyer gave the Jackets a two-run lead in the bottom of the first when he singled home Austin Smith and Dane Jones. Noe Balderas singled to center in the third to drive in Weston McKinley. Brueggemeyer singled up the middle in the fourth to drive in Jones, giving LETU a 4-0 lead.
 
HSU scored twice in the seventh to cut the deficit in half. But Bryan came in to get two fly outs and a strikeout to end the inning, and then got out of a jam in the eighth when he recorded an inning-ending strikeout with the bases loaded.
 
Brueggemeyer was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Balderas was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Smith went 2-for-4. Jones was 2-for-5. McKinley was 1-for-3 with a stolen base.
 
Cowboys starter Brandon Girod (0-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, four hits and three walks, and striking out three.
 
LeTourneau will play at ASC frontrunner Louisiana College in a three-game set Thursday and Friday in Pineville, Louisiana.