No. 3 East Texas Baptist sweeps LeTourneau

MARSHALL, Texas – The LeTourneau University softball team dropped a pair of American Southwest Conference East Division games Tuesday as the YellowJackets fell, 7-1, and 8-1, to No. 3 East Texas Baptist at Taylor Field.

 

In the opener, LeTourneau (12-14 overall, 4-12 ASC East) loaded the bases, but failed to get a run home in the top of the first.

 

In the bottom of the frame, East Texas Baptist (25-3, 12-2) took advantage of the missed opportunity by the YellowJackets and scored two runs on a pair of errors to grab a 2-0 lead.

 

Adrienne Meier was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. She advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Porsha Harrison as there was an error charged to the YellowJacket third baseman on the play. Harrison stole second. Meier scored on a balk as Harrison took third on the play. Brooke Martin plated Harrison when she reached on a fielder's choice as an error was given to the LeTourneau second baseman, giving the Lady Tigers a 2-0 advantage.

 

East Texas Baptist added a run in the fourth as Hayden Furlow reached on a bunt single and advanced all the way to third when Meier reached on a throwing error by the LeTourneau third baseman. Harrison loaded the bases on a bunt single. Meghan Fisher followed by reaching on a fielder's choice as Furlow was out at home. Martin hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Meier to give the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead.

 

LeTourneau cut the deficit to 3-1 with a run in the sixth.

 

Christin Mickelboro was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. With one down, Kelsie Mercer-Stephenson was hit by a pitch to move Mickelboro to second. Gina Buysman reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases and Alex Flanagan brought Mickelboro in on a sacrifice fly to left.

 

The Lady Tigers put the game way with four runs on three hits and took advantage of a pair of YellowJacket errors to grab a 7-1 lead.

 

Stephenson (8-5) took the loss. She surrendered seven runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings.

 

Ayrika Henderson (12-2) took the win in pitching a complete game. She gave up one run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

 

In the second game, East Texas Baptist scored a pair of runs on two hits in the bottom of the first to grab a 2-0 lead.

 

Meier began the frame with a double to left. Harrison walked. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Fisher followed with a base on balls to load the bases. Martin reached on a fielder's choice as Meier was out at home. Rebecca Young ripped a double down the line in left to plate Fisher and Harrison.

 

LeTourneau got a run back and trailed 2-1 by scoring in the third.

 

Ashley McPhail, who went 2-for-3, singled through the left side with one out. Kayla Blucher reached on a fielder's choice as McPhail was out at second. Kylie Packard singled to center and advanced to second on a throwing error as Blucher scored.

 

The Lady Tigers answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs on three hits to extend the lead to 5-1.

 

East Texas Baptist put the game away with a three-run fourth to take an 8-1 advantage.

 

Devin Borsellino (0-4) surrendered five runs on five hits with four walks and struck out one in three innings. Flanagan, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, worked two innings in relief. She gave up three runs on five hits with a pair of walks. Stephenson finished the game on the mound by giving up one hit and fanning one.

 

Alicia Wright (11-0) pitched a complete game for the Lady Tigers. She scattered eight hits and gave up one run (unearned) and recorded four strikeouts.

 

The YellowJackets return to action 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 8 at the LETU Softball Field against UT-Dallas in an American Southwest Conference East Division doubleheader.