SHERMAN, Texas -- The LeTourneau baseball team mounted a comeback attempt in the ninth inning, but could not overcome Austin College in a 3-2 loss in the series opener on Friday night at Baker Field.

It was the conference opener for both LeTourneau (2-2, 0-1 SCAC) and Austin College (1-1, 1-0 SCAC).

A three-run first inning was good enough for the host Kangaroos to hold on. Desmond Squalls and Jayden Ayala-Hinojosa had back-to-back run-scoring singles that plated three for the home side.

LeTourneau got its first hit of the game in the fifth when Blake Vice led off with a single to left field. He later came around to score on an RBI single from Chris Savage to get the YellowJackets within 3-1.

The score remained until the ninth. Cody Brady led off the inning with a pinch-hit home run to left field to make it 3-2. The homer was Brady's first career long ball.

Singles from Austin Wiederhold and Zach Baker put two on for the YellowJackets with one out later in the ninth. With runners at second and third, Savage and Jack Kale were retired to end the threat and halt the comeback effort.

Clayton Holt (0-2) went six innings in his start allowing three runs while notching six strikeouts. Will Podsednik tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

Vice had two of LeTourneau's six hits while Wiederhold, Savage, Brady, and Baker all had one each.

Austin starter Jonas CeBallos (1-0) got the win as he went five innings and surrendered one run. Leo Hohman earned the save after stranding the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau and Austin College will play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 12 p.m. at Sherman High School.

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