The LeTourneau University baseball split a doubleheader with the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor on Saturday. The Cru (24-13, 18-12 ASC) won game one, 6-1 and the YellowJackets (25-11, 19-11 ASC) won game two, 9-5 on Senior Day at Conrad-Vernon Field.
 
Between games, LeTourneau recognized Curt Copeland, Chris Bertram, Garrett Methvin, Jared O'Neal, Jon Riley, Bryce Griffin, Kirby Cantalamessa, Chuck Daugherty, Jordan Price and Jordan Argabright. All 10 have LeTourneau contributed to the 24 wins in 2014 for the YellowJackets, which are the most in the Division III era.
 
Game 1
After pounding out 15 hits in the series opener, UMHB pitchers, Seth Barrow and Aaron Barteau held LeTourneau to six hits. Barrow and Barteau capitalized on strong defensive play in the field including a clutch double play in the second.
 
UMHB took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after an error by the YellowJackets. LeTourneau nearly tied it in the second with one out and a runner on third. The YellowJackets' Bryce Henry lined to third where Heath Spencer made a sensational play at third. Then, he alertly dived at the bag to double up the LeTourneau runner to end the inning.
 
The Cru added to their lead with a sacrifice fly in fourth for a 2-0 lead; then, they scored their next three runs with two outs including one in the fifth and three seventh en route to a 5-0 lead.
 
LeTourneau got on the board in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single by Garrett Methvin, who brought in Chris Bertram, who had recorded a two-out double down the left-field line.  A fly out ended the contest for the YellowJackets.
 
Sophomore Dillon Yates had two of the six hits for LeTourneau and junior Cody Whitley was the losing pitcher falling to 5-2.
 
For the Cru, Will Stafford had two hits and two runs scored to lead UMHB. Barrow improved to 2-0, allowing four hits in 5.1 innings of work and Barteau pitched the final 1.2 innings for his sixth save.
 
Game 2
The offense returned in the nightcap for the YellowJackets as they had nine hits but just as important were the six walks that they received en route to a 9-5 win.
 
LeTourneau starter Justin Jenkins raised his record to 7-3 with a six-inning stint, scattering seven hits, allowing four earned and striking out four. The Cru utilized six-different pitchers including Nicholas Bergman, who only lasted 0.2 innings in the loss to fall to 4-4. At the plate, LeTourneau went 5-for-13 with six RBI with two outs in the win. 
 
The YellowJackets jumped out to a 4-0 advantage through the first two innings before the Cru rallied to tie it in the top half of the fourth inning at 4. LeTourneau answered with four two-out runs with just one base hit. The patience at the plate was a key factor as they capitalized on four walks and a pair of wild pitches by the UMHB relievers.
 
Holding an 8-4 lead into the seventh inning, LeTourneau went to its senior relievers – Jon Riley, Kirby Cantalamessa and Jordan Price - to close out the contest. Each pitched an inning of work for the YellowJackets.
 
The YellowJackets added its ninth run of the contest when freshman Kyle Jacobs hit his fourth home run of the season in the seventh. UMHB scored a run in the ninth for the final margin.
 
Next, LeTourneau will close out the regular season with a three-game series at the University of the Ozarks, May 2-3.