YellowJackets pound out 15 hits in loss

LONGVIEW – The LeTourneau University baseball team pounded out 15 hits, but it wasn't enough as the YellowJackets fell Tuesday afternoon to Wabash College, 23-11, at Conrad-Vernon Field.

 

The YellowJackets (4-9) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Travis Self, who went 2-for-6, singled up the middle and scored on Charles Johnson's double to right-center.

 

The Little Giants (1-4), who recorded 25 hits, answered with four runs in the second and third to take an 8-1 lead.

 

LeTourneau scored three runs on one hit to cut the margin to 8-4 in the bottom of the fourth.

 

Daniel Francis and Joey Ramos drew back-to-back walks to begin the fourth. After a fly out, Eric Wait walked to load the bases. All three base runners came in to score on a Logan Smith triple, cutting the Wabash lead to 8-4.

 

The Little Giants extended the advantage to 13-4 with five runs on four hits in the top of the fifth, but again the YellowJackets answered with a pair of runs on two hits to trim the margin to 13-6 in the bottom of the inning.

 

Nate Tomaszewski, who went 5-for-6, singled through the right side to begin the frame. He scored on a two-run homer by Johnson, as he went 3-for-4 at the plate.

 

Wabash continued to put runs on the board by plating six in the top of the sixth to take a 19-6 advantage.

 

LeTourneau responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth as Tomaszewski doubled with one out and scored on a Johnson double to left-center. Francis, who went 2-for-5, double to bring Johnson in, to close the gap to 19-8.

 

Both teams scored a run in the seventh and Wabash added on in the eighth to take a 21-9 advantage. The Little Giants put the game away with two in the top of the ninth as LeTourneau finished the game with two in the bottom of the frame.

 

The YellowJackets used eight pitchers as David Harrison (0-1) started. He went three innings, giving up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits with a strikeout. James Wyatt, Josh Peschell, Will Bunker, Jay Lutz, Tyler Kaminski, Kody Smith and Travis Norris pitched in relief.

 

Eric Faust (2-0) picked up the victory for the Little Giants. He went five innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Pete Schmith, Brian Van Duyn and Luke Zinsmaster all worked in relief.

 

LeTourneau continues its two-game home stand with a noon game, Wednesday, March 10 at Conrad-Vernon Field against Eureka College.