BELTON, Texas -- Lexi Hutchins had a home run in each game, but it was not enough as the LeTourneau softball team lost both games in the Thursday double-header at Mary Hardin-Baylor.

GAME ONE: Mary Hardin-Baylor 8, LeTourneau 1

LeTourneau (12-10, 5-3 ASC) took an early lead but the hosts Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-11, 4-7 ASC) took game one 8-1.

Lexi Hutchins got the YellowJackets on the board in the top of the second with a solo home run to go up 1-0. The bomb was Hutchins's fifth of the season.

Mary Hardin-Baylor answered back in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on three hits.

The Cru extended the lead in the third inning with four runs off of five hits to make it 5-1.

Elleigh Whyte (7-5) was in the circle for the Cru, she allowed just three hits and one earned run with five strikeouts.

Reese Albrecht came in relief for the final 2.0 innings, she allowed zero hits, one walk, and tallied one strikeout.

Hailee Leger (4-5) got the start for LeTourneau. Leger went 3.1 innings, allowed 12 hits, eight earned runs, and got a pair of strikeouts. 

Kirstin Ferguson came in relief, she went 1.2 frames allowing one hit.

Hannah Decker pitched the three outs in the bottom of the sixth with one hit allowed.

GAME TWO: Mary Hardin-Baylor 6, LeTourneau 2

LeTourneau battled but could not overcome the Crusaders.

Mary Hardin-Baylor struck first in the bottom of the second scoring three runs on three hits to make it 3-0. 

Hutchins hit her second home run on the day (sixth of the year) in the top of the fourth to put a run up for the Jackets (3-1).

In the top of the fifth inning, Payton Bauer reached on an error at shortstop. Jenna Carter also put one in play to be able to take advantage of an error at third base. 

Maddie Flanery moved them both along with a sacrifice bunt, leaving two in scoring position for Kylie Grisham.

Grisham was then able to score Jaci Taylor, who was pinch-running for Bauer, on a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 3-2.

The Cru responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs scoring on four hits with two stolen bases. This put the hosts ahead 6-2.

LeTourneau could not find a way to erase the deficit to make the 6-2 the final score. 

Chloee Mason (3-6) got the win for the Cru for her six innings of work. Mason allowed three hits, two runs, one earned, and got two strikeouts. 

Albrecht came in relief for the 7th inning to close the game, allowing no hits.

Laney Taylor (5-2) started in the circle for LeTourneau. Taylor pitched 4.1 innings, allowed eight hits, six earned runs, and got a strikeout.

Hutchins came in relief for 1.2 innings, allowing no hits.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau will wrap up the series tomorrow against UMHB (12:00 p.m.).

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