BELTON, Texas -- The LeTourneau baseball team got out to a 3-0 lead through three innings, but a four-run fifth inning propelled Mary Hardin-Baylor to a 5-3 victory over the YellowJackets in the series opener on Friday night.

It was the conference opener for both LeTourneau (8-12, 0-1 ASC) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-5, 1-0 ASC).

LeTourneau scored a run in the second inning and two more in the third to grab a 3-0 lead.

Zach Baker reached on an error with two outs in the second to score Jack Kale. In the third inning, Kale doubled home Dane Jones before an RBI ground out from Hayden Norris brought Luke Land home for a 3-0 advantage.

LeTourneau starter Aman Patel (0-4) went a season-high eight innings in the loss. He struck out four and scattered seven hits and five earned runs. It was the third time this season Patel threw at least six innings in a start.

Mary Hardin-Baylor got a run in the fourth inning, but used a four-run fifth to take the lead for good. Riley Bender delivered an RBI single and Shane Melick followed with a three-run homer to give the host Crusaders a 5-3 lead.

LeTourneau got a runner to second with one out in the eighth as Xander Nabors singled and advanced on a wild pitch, but Mary Hardin-Baylor got out of the jam.

Jones, Nabors, Kale, Norris, and Brice Cagle all had one hit apiece for the YellowJackets.

Mason Semmelman (2-1) earned the win in relief for the Crusaders as he tossed four scoreless innings. Isaac Brann picked up his first save of the year.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau and Mary Hardin-Baylor play a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m.).

FOLLOW THE YELLOWJACKETS

Be sure to follow LeTourneau athletics all season long on letuathletics.com and social media at Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news, and other information.