LONGVIEW, Texas -- LeTourneau baseball came up just short in both games of the Saturday doubleheader against Texas Lutheran at Conrad-Vernon Field.

The Bulldogs (10-2, 7-2 SCAC) took the lead in the eighth with a pair of runs, winning 8-6. In the rubber match, Blake Vice homered for the YellowJackets (7-6, 5-4 SCAC) to tie things in the seventh, but once again Texas Lutheran produced a pair in the eighth inning, eventually winning 6-3, and taking the SCAC series 2-1.

Vice and Chris Savage hit one over the fence in game two, while Jonah McDaniel collected a two-run homer in game one. McDaniel went 4-for-8 at the plate between the games, while Savage managed a hit in both games, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.

GAME ONE: Texas Lutheran 8, LeTourneau 6

The Texas Lutheran bats were potent in game one, producing eight runs on 17 hits, but the LeTourneau pitching was able to work out of a number of jams, stranding 12 baserunners.

Jack Kale went 2-for-5 and crossed the plate twice in the opener, McDaniel hit 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Zack Baker had a two-RBI double in the second. 

Will Podsednik (1-1) received the losing decision in relief, allowing both runs in the eighth innings.

Texas Lutheran struck first, plating four in the opening half-inning of the day, and hitting through the lineup. An Adam Peavy RBI-single gave the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead after the top of the second.

Baker's two-RBI double got LeTourneau into the scoring column, followed by McDaniel's two-run homer to make it 5-4 after three innings.

After a quiet next three innings, McDaniel struck once again, this time hitting an RBI-single to tie things at 5-5. A sacrifice fly by Royce Davis later in the seventh gave LeTourneau a 6-5 lead, their first of the game.

The Bulldogs rallied in the eight, managing three straight singles to tie things at 6-6, before Michael Barrera singled through the left side to lead 7-6.

After a Cole Cravens sacrifice cly tacked on another run in the ninth, LeTourneau was able to get a pair of runners on in the home half and bring the winning run to the plate, but the Bulldogs worked out of it, securing the win.

Parker Schutte (2) pitched a two-inning scoreless save in the Bulldogs win.

GAME TWO: Texas Lutheran 6, LeTourneau 3

Parker McGowan (3-1) pitched a complete game for Texas Lutheran, allowing only four hits through the full nine innings.

Caleb Small's two-run home run off Spencer Alexander (0-1) in the eighth was the deciding factor offensively in the rubber match.

Savage and Vice's homers were the only extra-base hits in the loss for the Jackets, while Austin Wiederhold and McDaniel garnered the other hits.

Ameron Sheikh allowed only three runs through five-plus innings, striking out four en route to the no-decision. 

After Savage hit the game-tying two-run bomb in the fourth inning, Kadyn Hall would answer for the Bulldogs in the sixth with an RBI single down the left field line.

Vice's solo blast tied the game at 3-3 after seven, but Small matched the power with his go-ahead homer. Texas Lutheran tacked on another in the ninth to make it 6-3.

Once again, LeTourneau was able to get a pair on in the ninth, but three straight outs would follow, ending the game and the series.

Chase Bourgeois led the Bulldogs with four hits between the twin-bill, while Texas Lutheran had four batters collect 3-plus hits.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau will host #18/22 Belhaven for a midweek on Tuesday, March 3, at 6:00 p.m.

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