Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team could not overcome LeTourneau's three-run seventh inning as the Cru dropped a 3-1 decision to the Yellowjackets Friday night in Belton. UMHB falls to 19-18 on the season with the loss. LeTourneau improves to 21-15 on the season with the victory. 

The Cru finally broke up a scoreless pitcher's duel in the bottom of the sixth inning. Chase Burrow reached on an error to start the inning and moved to second on Garrett Webb's sacrifice bunt. Burrow would come around to score on Zack Whiddon's single to make it 1-0 UMHB. LeTourneau took a 3-1 lead on Ryan Bertram's three-run, two-out double in the top of the seventh inning after Cru starting pitcher Kreece Cooper left with an injury. The Cru put a runner on second with two outs in the eight but could not score and UMHB went down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Cooper took the loss to fall to 2-3. He struck out five, walked three and scattered seven hits. Chris Florack had two of UMHB's eight hits in the game. Curt Copeland tossed a complete-game, eight-hitter for the Yellowjackets to raise his record to 8-2. Copeland allowed only an unearned run while striking out five. Dustin Varnado had three hits and Jay Lutz and Chuck Daugherty added two apiece for LeTourneau.

The two teams will close out the series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday. That doubleheader will also close out the regular season for both teams. UMHB has already clinched a berth in the ASC Championship Tournament and will be either the #2 or #3 seed from the West Division. LeTourneau was eliminated from contention for an ASC Tournament bid by East Texas Baptist's 6-3 victory over U.T.-Dallas earlier on Friday.