JACKSON, Miss. -- Down, but not out.

That mantra was on full display for the LeTourneau baseball team on Saturday as the YellowJackets secured a doubleheader split with a thrilling, 17-16, comeback win over Millsaps in game two of the twin-bill.

LeTourneau (1-2) dropped the opener, 9-8.

GAME TWO: LeTourneau 17, Millsaps 16

LeTourneau rallied from six runs down in the seventh, and last, inning as Jack Kale's two-out grand slam tied the game in the inning before a wild pitch gave the YellowJackets a 17-16 victory.

LeTourneau trailed 12-4 in the sixth and scored six runs to get within 12-10. After Millsaps scored four runs in its half of the sixth, the YellowJackets faced a 16-10 deficit.

However, LeTourneau produced another big inning.

The YellowJackets scored seven runs on three hits and took advantage of a big Millsaps error to grab the lead. Austin Wiederhold's sacrifice fly scored Hayden Norris -- who led off the inning with a double -- to get within 16-11. The game looked like it would be over on Luke Land's two-out grounder to second base, but Millsaps misplayed it allowing a run to score and the inning to continue.

One batter later, Kale made the Majors pay. The freshmen hammered a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam to tie the game at 16-16. The homer was the first collegiate long ball of Kale's career.

LeTourneau put runners back on base later in the inning and a wild pitch scored Zach Zarko from third to put the YellowJackets ahead 17-16.

Xander Nabors worked through trouble in the home-half of the seventh to preserve the win. Nabors struck out Evan Scott and EJ Ousley back-to-back with the bases loaded to give LeTourneau the win.

Kale went 2-for-5 with five RBIs while Dane Jones, Nabors, and Wiederhold each had two hits. Wiederhold and Brice Cagle had two RBIs apiece.

LeTourneau used seven pitchers in the win as Clayton Holt (1-0) notched the win going one inning in relief. Nabors collected the save in his pitching debut for the YellowJackets. Landon Stocks made his first start since 2023 and went 2.1 innings on a limited pitch count.

Bradley Pelle was 2-for-4 with four RBIs for the Majors. Carston Williams (0-1) got the loss in relief and was one of six Millsaps relievers used after starter Wil Wood went 4.1 innings.

GAME ONE: Millsaps 9, LeTourneau 8

In the opener on Saturday, LeTourneau nearly had a comeback win but fell just short, 9-8.

Millsaps scored four runs in the first before the YellowJackets answered with a four-spot in the fourth inning to even the score. Nabors delivered a two-run homer, while Kale and Zarko each had RBIs.

LeTourneau briefly took a lead. Luke Land's two-run homer in the seventh inning gave the YellowJackets a 6-5 lead. It was his first home run of the year.

Millsaps (6-1) regained the lead and held a 9-6 edge into the ninth. Wiederhold had a two-run double in the top of the ninth to get the YellowJackets within 9-8, but Millsaps hung on.

Zarko, Land, and Wiederhold each had two hits as LeTourneau totaled 10 in the loss. Wiederhold finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. He was 6-for-9 overall in the series.

Zac Schneider (0-1) got the loss in relief. Ryan Brewer went three innings in his limited start.

John Montour (1-0) picked up the win for Millsaps in relief as he went 3.2 innings. Ousley went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in the win.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau hosts VTSU Castleton in the home opener on Tuesday at Conrad-Vernon Field (6 p.m.).

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