ABILENE, Texas -- After falling in the series opener in game one of the doubleheader, the LeTourneau softball team bounced back for an 8-1 victory in game two at Hardin-Simmons on Thursday night at Ellis Field.

LeTourneau (15-16, 8-9 ASC) got a strong pitching performance from Hailee Leger in the nightcap and a three-run home run from Maddi Smith.

GAME TWO: LeTourneau 8, Hardin-Simmons 1

Leger tossed a complete game and a three-run homer from Smith in the fifth inning broke a scoreless game as LeTourneau pulled away for an 8-1 victory in Thursday's second game.

Leger (6-8) did not allow a run until the seventh inning as she threw a complete game and allowed just five hits and one run with six strikeouts.

A pitcher's duel took place until the fifth when the YellowJackets broke through. Singles from Leighton Landreth and Lilly Longoria set up Smith's three-run blast to left field to give LeTourneau a 3-0 lead.

The homer was Smith's fourth of the year.

LeTourneau added two more runs in the sixth on Payton Bauer's RBI single and Longoria's two-run single to make it 6-0. In the seventh, Lexi Hutchins drove in Jaci Taylor with a sacrifice fly and Bauer produced her second RBI single.

The YellowJackets had 12 hits in the game as Taylor, Jenna Carter, Landreth, Bauer, and Longoria all had multi-hit games. 

Jorey Hood (4-4) got the loss in the circle for Hardin-Simmons (21-9, 10-7 ASC). Madison Mayhew had two of the Cowgirls' five hits.

GAME ONE: Hardin-Simmons 5, LeTourneau 3

Hardin-Simmons erased an early deficit and scored runs in four straight innings to overcome LeTourneau, 5-3, in the series opener.

Hutchins gave LeTourneau the lead in the first inning with a two-run homer to center field. The blast was her seventh of the year.

After Hardin-Simmons got a run in the second inning, LeTourneau went ahead 3-1 on Taylor's sacrifice fly that plated Maddie Flanery.

Hardin-Simmons got a run in the third and then took the leadfor good in the fourth with two runs on four hits. The Cowgirls tacked on another in the fifth to make it 5-3.

LeTourneau threatened in the seventh as Carter and Flanery put together back-to-back two-out singles, but Haven Williams held off the YellowJackets.

Williams (9-3) went the distance and struck out two while scattering nine hits and three runs.

Laney Taylor (5-4) got the loss for LeTourneau. Hutchins tossed a scoreless inning in relief.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau and Hardin-Simmons conclude the series on Friday at 12 p.m. in Abilene.

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