ABILENE, Texas -- The LeTourneau softball team brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the seventh inning, but could not complete the comeback in an 8-5 loss at Hardin-Simmons in ASC play on Friday afternoon.

LeTourneau (15-17, 8-10 ASC) trailed 8-2 in the game before trimming the deficit and having a chance in the late innings.

The YellowJackets tied a season-high with 15 hits, led by Leighton Landreth going 4-for-4 with an RBI. Maddi Smith was 3-for-4 while Jenna Carter and Maddie Flanery each had two hits.

Down 2-0 in the fourth, LeTourneau scored twice to even things up. Landreth drove in Carter with a single to get the YellowJackets on the board before Smith delivered a run-scoring single.

Hardin-Simmons (22-9, 11-7 ASC) answered with five runs on four hits in the fourth to grab a 7-2 lead. 

The host Cowgirls extended the margin to 8-2 entering the sixth. LeTourneau would not go away as Laney Taylor produced a two-run double, scoring Landreth and Smith, to make it 8-4. Jaci Taylor followed and reached on an error from the right fielder that enabled pinch-runner Corinne Van Cleef to trim the deficit to 8-5.

LeTourneau loaded the bases in the seventh as Landreth and Smith had back-to-back singles to begin the frame before an error put runners on all three bags. Hardin-Simmons reliever Haven Williams stymied the YellowJacket bats from there to hold on for the win.

Lexi Hutchins made the start for LeTourneau and went 3.1 innings allowing four earned runs on six hits. 

Aubrianna Salazar picked up the win as she went four innings and struck out three, while Williams notched the save. Ella Salinas had two hits and three RBIs for the Cowgirls.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau returns home for a three-game set with UT Dallas starting next Friday (April 26).

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