LONGVIEW, Texas -- Late-game comebacks are becoming the norm for the LeTourneau softball team.
Lexi Hutchins had a walk-off double to cap a four-run seventh inning in a LeTourneau 4-3 victory over No. 23 Hardin-Simmons in game one of Friday's doubleheader and then Hutchins had a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning of game two as the YellowJackets completed the twin-bill sweep with a 4-2 comeback victory.
The wins extend the win streak for LeTourneau (21-12, 11-9 ASC) to five. The YellowJackets also clinched the program's fifth 20-win season.
GAME ONE: LeTourneau 4, Hardin-Simmons 3
Blanked through six innings and facing a 3-0 deficit, LeTourneau scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh as Hutchins delivered a game-winning double that scored
Murphy Williams to complete the 4-3 comeback victory.
LeTourneau left eight runners on base through the first six innings, but capitalized on its chances in the seventh.
Alexa Neilon led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch and
Kylie Grisham followed with a single. With one out and runners at second and third,
Kenna Hendry put together a 15-pitch at-bat before lacing a single to right-center field that plated Grisham and get the YellowJackets within 3-1. Williams followed and hammered a pitch to deep center field where Hardin-Simmons outfielder Lindsey Ratcliffe had the ball go in and out of her glove allowed Williams to get to second and
Mickenzie Murry to score.
One batter later,
Laney Taylor lifted a sacrifice fly to even the score at 3-3. Hutchins followed and drilled a 2-2 pitch into the gap in right-center field to chase Williams home with the winning run.
The comeback win marked the second time this season LeTourneau rallied from a three-run deficit in its last at-bat against a ranked opponent (Mary Hardin-Baylor on March 31).
Taylor (1-1) was the story in the circle for LeTourneau. The right-hander came on in relief and silenced the Hardin-Simmons bats as she went 4.2 innings allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts to notch the win.
Williams went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the 11-hit attack for the YellowJackets. Hutchins was 3-for-4 and Grisham added two hits.
Haven Williams (8-5) threw 114 pitches in 6.1 innings as she got the loss. Kristen McMillan and Sarah Diessner each had two hits for Hardin-Simmons.
GAME TWO: LeTourneau 4, Hardin-Simmons 2
More fireworks in game two as LeTourneau erased a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the sweep with a 4-2 victory.
Hutchins was in the middle of it again as her two-run double in the sixth gave LeTourneau a 3-2 lead. Neilon followed with an RBI triple that plated Hutchins for a 4-2 lead.
Taylor (2-1) picked up her second win of the day in relief as she threw the final three innings and did not allow a run as she scattered two hits and struck out three.Â
LeTourneau struck first in the third inning when Grisham doubled home
Hunter Handley to make it 1-0. Hardin-Simmons answered with two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead.
After LeTourneau grabbed the lead in the sixth, Hardin-Simmons put together a rally in the top of the seventh. However,
Graci Hart made a diving catch on a McMillan fly ball to center field and Taylor got Madison Mayhew to fly out to thwart the rally and finish off the sweep.
Williams went 2-for-2 with a walk as she went 6-for-6 and reached base all seven times between the two games.Â
Kaylen Washington (5-3) got the loss in the circle for Hardin-Simmons (23-9, 12-7 ASC).
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
UP NEXT
The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 12 p.m.
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