MARSHALL, Texas -- Down 9-0 in the eighth inning, the LeTourneau baseball team trimmed the deficit to one in the ninth and had the tying runner in scoring position but could not complete the comeback in a 9-8 loss to top-seed East Texas Baptist in the championship round of the ASC Tournament.

LeTourneau ends the year 23-20 overall. 

The YellowJackets trailed 9-0 entering the eighth inning, but pulled together a dramatic comeback attempt. Zach Zarko got LeTourneau on the board in the eighth with a two-run single that plated Jack Kale and Isaac Price to make it 9-2.

In the ninth, the YellowJackets made a hard charge. A walk, hit-by-pitch, and an infield single to start the inning loaded the bases with nobody out. Price blasted a grand slam to left-center field, his sixth homer of the year, to get LeTourneau within 9-6. It was the third grand slam hit by LeTourneau in the tournament.

Kale kept the rally going with a broken-bat single to center field and Zarko singled two batters later to put runners at first and second with one out. Pinch-hitter Kevin Soto punched a single to right-center field to load the bases again.

ETBU's defense then gifted LeTourneau two runs. Zach Baker hit a grounder right back to the pitcher, but ETBU's Carson Speegle turned and threw the ball away trying for the force at second that allowed both Zarko and Kale to score and bring LeTourneau within 9-8.

LeTourneau had runners at first and second with one out, but Speegle got Austin Wiederhold to fly out to left before striking out Dane Jones to end the game.

Price went 3-for-5 with four RBIs to lead the 13-hit attack for LeTourneau. Nabors, Hayden Norris, and Zarko all had two hits apiece.

ETBU (28-14) went ahead 9-0 after six innings. The Tigers scored in each of the first four innings to open an 8-0 lead. Joaquin Costa homered in the first inning while Luke Bumpus and Luke Finn had two hits each.

Will Podsednik (3-1) got the loss for LeTourneau on the mound. Landry Powell (2-0) earned the win for the Tigers.

LeTourneau had four players earn ASC All-Tournament honors: Dane Jones, Austin Wiederhold, Jack Kale, Clayton Holt.

The YellowJackets were making their third-ever appearance in the ASC championship round.

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