MARSHALL, Texas -- Laney Taylor tossed a five-inning shutout and a two-run home run from Leighton Landreth in the first inning helped propel the No. 4 seeded LeTourneau softball team to an 8-0 win over No. 5 seed Howard Payne in the ASC Tournament on Thursday.

LeTourneau (16-25) advances to face No. 1 seed East Texas Baptist on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the first round of the double elimination portion of the tournament.

LeTourneau jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, thanks in part to Landreth's blast. Maddie Flanery singled to start the frame and came around to score on a wild pitch. Landreth then blasted the first pitch of her at-bat over the left-center field wall for a two-run shot giving LeTourneau a 3-0 lead.

The home run was Landreth's eighth of the year.

Taylor (7-12) was strong in the circle. The right-hander scattered five hits  while striking out two with zero walks to notch her first shutout of the season.

The YellowJackets tacked on three runs in the fourth inning to extend the margin.

Flanery doubled to deep right-center field to plate Lilly Longoria before an RBI ground out from Jaci Taylor made it 5-0. Kylie Grisham capped the frame with her double to the left-center field gap to bring home Flanery for a 6-0 edge.

In the fifth, LeTourneau finished the win with two more runs. Jenna Carter beat out an infield single that plated Maddi Smith and Taylor ended the game with her single down the third base line that scored Longoria.

Flanery went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI as LeTourneau had 11 hits in the win. All starters had at least one hit.

Destiny Sanchez (0-1) got the loss for Howard Payne in the circle.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau faces top-seed, and No. 1-ranked, East Texas Baptist on Thursday at 6 p.m.

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