LONGVIEW, Texas -- LeTourneau Baseball took both games of the Saturday doubleheader at Conrad-Vernon Field, securing the sweep and first SCAC series win over #22/18 McMurry.

The YellowJackets (6-3, 4-2 SCAC) overcame strong starting pitching to earn the game one comeback victory, followed by a seven-run third inning in game two to power the win and secure the sweep.

Chris Savage led the Jackets at the plate, going 5-for-8 at the plate between the two games with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Cruz Cox (2) was called on in the ninth twice, securing the save in both contests.

GAME ONE: LeTourneau 7, McMurry 5

LeTourneau was no-hit through 5.2 innings before a four-run inning broke through, followed by a three-run seventh to earn the win.

Savage and Jonah McDaniel each had a pair of RBIs and a hit in the win, while Austin Wiederhold, Caleb Sandusky, and Cody Brady had a hit apiece.

Blake Goodridge pitched a strong start, allowing three runs through five innings and striking out seven. 

The War Hawks (3-8, 1-5 SCAC) stuck first when Chase Lynch hit a solo homer to right field in the top of the first. This would not rattle Goodridge, though, as he retired eight straight batters to follow.

Will Podsednik would come out of the pen in the sixth and allow a pair of inherited runners to score before getting out of the inning, giving McMurry a 3-0 lead.

However, Jordan Baynes, Zach Baker, and Jack Kale would all work walks in the seventh, and LeTourneau would find its first run via a two-out hit by pitch drawn by Savage. McDaniel followed by bringing in a pair of runs on a double down the left field line to tie things up. A balk brought Savage home to give the Jackets a 4-3 lead.

A pair of hits at the top of the seventh allowed McMurry to tie the game back at 4-4, but an opposite-field RBI double by Brady gave LeTourneau a lead they would not surrender. The YellowJackets managed another pair of runs across in the inning, extending the lead to 7-4.

Lynch produced an RBI double for the War Hawks in the ninth, but Cox recorded the final two outs to shut the door and secure the series.

Podsednik (1-0) allowed one run in two innings of relief work to earn the win.

Brian Biggs (0-1) allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh to receive the loss, while Lynch went 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs.

GAME TWO: LeTourneau 9, McMurry 7

Savage supplied eight total bases on four hits, including a solo homer in the fourth to lead the YellowJackets to the series sweep.

Blake Vice went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and an RBI, while Brady brought home a pair of runs at the plate.

McDaniel and Baker each supplied a run and an RBI in the win, and Ameron Sheikh (1-0) allowed three runs through five innings to earn his first win, striking out five in the process.

LeTourneau once again found themselves in a hole, as McMurry produced a three-run second inning thanks to RBI singles from Kai'i Sylvester and Kaden Buske.

Down 3-0 early, the Jackets needed to find a rhythm at the plate, and they did just that.

Jack Kale and Savage would each single, before McDaniel followed suit, putting LeTourneau on the scoreboard.

Vice would walk to load the bases, and Luke Land would reach on a two-out bases-loaded error that allowed a pair of runs to score and tie the game at 3-3.

Brady's RBI single gave LeTourneau the lead, Land scored on a balk, and Baker would produce an RBI single and later score on a throwing error to cap a seven-run seventh inning for the YellowJackets.

Savage's fourth-inning solo homer off the scoreboard gave LeTourneau an 8-3 lead.

After Brady extended the lead once more, McMurry attempted a ninth-inning comeback, plating four before Cox was called in to strike out the final batter and earn the save.

Luke Dickey pitched two scoreless frames in relief.

Braydon Durst (0-2) gave up seven runs through 2.2 innings to receive the losing decision, while Slyvester and Buske produced two hits apiece for the War Hawks.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau gets a break from SCAC play for a midweek on Tuesday, Feb 24, against East Texas Baptist (6:00 p.m.).

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