Stephenson, Flanagan pitch complete games in victories

LONGVIEW – Kelsie Mercer-Stephenson and Alex Flanagan pitched complete games as the LeTourneau University softball team knocked off Husson on Tuesday, 7-2 and 8-3 at the LETU Softball Field.

 

Stephenson (5-2), in the opener, was dominating, giving up two runs – both unearned – while scattering three hits. She walked just one and fanned nine.

 

Despite the Eagles (1-3) getting the first two runs of the game in the top of the second, LeTourneau (8-6), rallied with one in the fourth and exploded for six in the bottom of the sixth to get the 7-2 win.

 

Kylie Packard, who went 2-for-3, homered in the fourth to cut the Husson lead to 2-1.

 

The YellowJackets put the game away with six runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth inning.

 

Kayla Blucher, who went 1-for-4, singled to left-center to begin the frame. Packard doubled to center to move Blucher to third. After a pitching change, Christin Mickelboro, who went 1-for-3, doubled to right-center to plate Blucher and Packard.

 

With one out, Stephenson singled through the right side to advance Mickelboro to third and Ashley McPhail was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Flanagan singled to center to score Mickelboro. Juliana Tuel, who was 1-for-2, reached on a fielder's choice as Jerrica Cepak, pinch running for Stephenson, was out at home. Crissy Simmons, who went 1-for-4, followed with a double down the line right to clear the bases and give the YellowJackets a commanding 7-2 lead.

 

Kody Lynn took the loss for the Eagles by pitching five innings. She gave up three runs on five hits. Kara Poirier and Megan Richard pitched in relief.

 

Much like Stephenson in the first game, Flanagan was just as good as she surrendered three runs on four hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.

 

The Eagles scored two in the top of the first, but LeTourneau answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning.

 

With one down in the frame, Blucher, who went 2-for-2, reached on an infield hit and stole second. Simmons walked. Both runners scored on Mickelboro's double to right-center, tying the game at 2.

 

The YellowJackets took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the third as Simmons reached on a fielder's choice and scored when Mickelboro, who went 3-for-3, doubled to left-center.

 

The lead grew to 4-2 with a run in the fourth as McPhail, who went 1-for-3, doubled to left-center to begin the inning. She took third on a Tuel ground out and scored on a Packard base hit to left.

 

After Husson closed the gap to 4-3 with a run in the top of the fifth, LeTourneau answered with a run as Mickelboro walked and advanced to third on a Kali Behrens ground out. Stephenson grounded out to second to plate Mickelboro and push the margin to 5-3.

 

LeTourneau put the game way with a three-run sixth to take an 8-3 advantage.

 

Tuel walked with one out and Packard reached on an error. Blucher's bunt single loaded the bases. Simmons grounded out to second to plate Tuel. Mickelboro followed with a base hit up the middle to score Packard and Blucher for the final runs of the game.

 

Nicole Sargent took the loss. She worked four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Caitlin LeBorgne and Megan Richard pitched in relief.

 

The YellowJackets will play a 2:00 p.m., doubleheader on Friday, March 19 at the LETU Softball Field against East Texas Baptist in an American Southwest Conference East Division contest.