BASEBALL: YellowJackets split Saturday doubleheader at UT-Dallas

RICHARDSON, Texas – The LeTourneau baseball team avoided its third sweep in as many road series by claiming a 6-5 win in game one of a Saturday doubleheader at UT-Dallas.

UT-Dallas salvaged a doubleheader split by winning the finale 3-0, giving the Comets two wins in the weekend series.

In Saturday's opener, sophomore pitcher Garrett Methvin (Longview, Texas/Arkansas) earned the complete-game victory by allowing four earned runs over seven innings. He struck out six batters and scattered nine hits.

Chris Bertram (Friendswood, Texas/Baytown Christian) led three Jacket batters with multiple-hit performances in the opener by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Methvin and Travis Self (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge) collected two base hits and one RBI apiece.

The Jackets (16-17, 4-8 ASC East) plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to stretch their lead to 6-2. With Methvin and Nate Tomaszewski (Dove Canyon, Calif./Tesoro) on third base and second base, respectively, the Jackets opened the inning's scoring when UT-Dallas pitcher Calvin Campbell was charged with a balk.

Tomaszewski came home moments later on Bertram's RBI single to left field. The Jackets capped the scoring a few batters later when Self's RBI single through the left side allowed Bertram to score.

The four-run cushion proved to be just enough for the Jackets to preserve the victory after UT-Dallas pieced together a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh. The inning's first two Comet hitters knocked singles and then moved up two bases on a passed ball and a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 6-3.

UT-Dallas pulled to within two runs when Kyle Guest knocked a sacrifice fly to score Garet Norton. With two outs and nobody on, the Comets strung together three more hits and cut the LeTourneau lead to 6-5 before Methvin struck out Grant Friddell on three pitches to end the game.

Methvin improved his season record to 4-3 with the victory.

The Comets had an easier time keeping the Jackets at bay in Saturday's finale as Marvin Prestridge pitched a four-hit, nine-inning shutout for UT-Dallas.

LeTourneau's Travis Norris (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) gave up two earned runs over six innings while striking out three batters and scattering five hits. Jordan Price (Diana, Texas/New Diana) pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

The YellowJackets return to action Tuesday when they travel to Sherman to face Austin College in non-conference game scheduled for 6 p.m. The Jackets will contest their final home series next weekend when they host Louisiana College.