LONGVIEW, Texas -- Zach Baker's fourth stolen base of the night would be the dagger as LeTourneau stole a 7-6 win from Southwestern on Friday evening.

Baker, making his fourth start of the campaign, put up four hits and four steals, including two in the bottom of the eighth, before scoring the eventual winning run on a wild pitch.

Junior right-handed pitcher Will Podsednik (1-0) earned his first career win by firing the final 2.1 scoreless frames and only giving up one hit. Dalton Pickett started the game and struck out seven over five innings of two-run ball.

After the YellowJackets scored the first three runs of the ballgame off of a Xander Nabors two-RBI single and a Jack Kale sacrifice fly, the Pirates got a run back in the third inning off of a wild pitch.

Baker responded in short order, punching a single through the right side to drive in a run to make it 4-1 Jackets after three. 

LeTourneau added to their lead with more alert baserunning in the fourth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Nabors darted home from third on a Kale steal attempt, and then Baker scored the sixth run in the sixth inning on a double steal. 

The Pirates responded, though, getting four runs in the seventh inning on a single and a pair of doubles. 

It was then Baker's moment to shine, as he singled up the middle to begin the frame, and then stole second and third base before scoring on a wild pitch. Podsednik would shut down Southwestern in the ninth, retiring all three men in order.

The Pirates were led by catcher James Vaquero, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Silas Jones (1-3) was handed the loss, although he threw well, allowing two runs over four innings with six strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The YellowJackets and Pirates conclude their series with tomorrow's rubber match at 1 p.m.

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