LONGVIEW, Texas -- Lots of offense and a stellar pitching performance in game two enabled the LeTourneau softball team to pick up a sweep of Howard Payne in a doubleheader on Wednesday at the Joyce Family Athletic Village.

LeTourneau took game one, 7-3, before run-ruling the visiting Yellow Jackets, 8-0, in game two. 

LeTourneau (8-13) is 5-2 on its current homestand.

GAME ONE: LeTourneau 7, Howard Payne 3

LeTourneau broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fourth and took game one, 7-3.

The YellowJackets totaled 13 hits in the win led by Rylie Shipp's 3-for-4 game with an RBI. Maddie Flanery, Laila LaCapra, Taylor Gouge, Brooke Bubert, and Natalie Noriega all had two hits each. Gouge and Noriega each had two RBIs in the win.

LeTourneau struck first as Shipp doubled to left-center field in the first to score Flanery from second and make it a 1-0 game. Gouge followed with a double of her own to plate Shipp as LeTourneau chased Howard Payne starter Alyssa Silva after just four batters..

Howard Payne tied the game in the top of the fourth on a two-run single from Siannah Nava, but LeTourneau reliever Campbell Marler limited the damage from there as she stranded the bases loaded with no outs to keep the game tied.

In the bottom of the fourth, Flanery reached on an error and stole second before scoring on a wild pitch. Gouge tacked on an RBI double later in the inning that plated LaCapra for a 5-3 lead.

Noriega and LaCapra each had RBIs in the bottom of the fifth as LeTourneau added two insurance runs for a 7-3 lead.

Marler (1-2) collected her first collegiate win as she went four scoreless innings of relief and allowed just five hits. Destiny Sanchez (0-4) got the loss for Howard Payne.

Nava went 4-for-5 with two RBIs to lead Howard Payne.

GAME TWO: LeTourneau 8, Howard Payne 0

Brooke Bubert tossed five shutout inning and surrendered one hit, while LeTourneau racked up another 13 hits and scored three runs in the sixth for an 8-0 run-rule win.

Bubert (3-6) was phenomenal in the circle as she allowed only one hit -- a single in the second inning -- while striking out a season-high five to pick up the victory. She retired the final 11 hitters she faced in order.

LeTourneau again struck first with Flanery as the catalyst. The senior singled and stole second before scoring on LaCapra's single to center field to make it 1-0. Flanery had three steals in the game.

With a 1-0 lead in the fourth, LeTourneau added three runs. Raina Doggett had a long sacrifice fly to center field that plated Gouge before a Bubert double brought home Kylee Davis for a 3-0 lead. A Howard Payne error later in the inning produced another run for a 4-0 lead.

In the sixth, LeTourneau ended the game. Laynie Davis doubled to left to bring in two runs and a Kylee Davis single to right field with two outs delivered the run-rule victory.

Kylee Davis finished 3-for-4 with Flanery, LaCapra, and Bubert all getting two hits each.

Bree Brege tossed a scoreless sixth inning in relief.

Paris Mederez (0-2) received the loss as she allowed one run on three hits in one inning. Heaven Serna had the lone hit for Howard Payne (2-14).

UP NEXT

LeTourneau begins a three-game series vs. Ozarks on Friday (6 p.m.).

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