MARSHALL, Texas -- Laney Taylor tossed a two-hit shutout and the No. 5 seeded LeTourneau softball team moved into the ASC Tournament winners' bracket with a 3-0 victory over No. 4 seed Hardin-Simmons on Thursday afternoon in Marshall.

LeTourneau (22-17) advances to face No. 1 seed East Texas Baptist on Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m.

Taylor (8-4) was phenomenal in her start. The right-hander allowed just four baserunners and surrendered two hits to pick up the win. She retired 10 straight batters at one point in the middle innings.

Taylor struck out one and threw 80 pitches in the complete-game effort.

LeTourneau scored twice in the top of the first inning to take the lead for good. Maddie Flanery walked to lead off the game and moved to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. After a Jenna Carter walk, Kylie Grisham grounded out to third allowing Flanery to score and Carter came around on a throwing error to make it 2-0.

Hardin-Simmons (25-13) put together its biggest threat in the third, but outstanding defense from the YellowJackets kept the Cowgirls off the board. With runners at second and third with one out, Mickenzie Murry snagged a line drive off the bat of Haley Henson for the second out. Jaci Taylor then hauled in a long fly ball from Madi Hubbard to end the threat.

The YellowJackets tacked on one more run in the sixth. Flanery singled and stole second before scoring on Grisham's bunt single to make it 3-0.

Flanery went 2-for-2 and stolen three bases. The three steals puts Flanery at 50 for the season. 

Grisham and Maddi Smith also collected a hit each.

Haven Williams (10-6) picks up the loss after going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on four hits. 

UP NEXT

LeTourneau faces No. 1 seed East Texas Baptist on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a winners' bracket game.

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