LONGVIEW, Texas – Finding themselves in a hole early, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team could not capitalize on the chances to rally back from early miscues as they fell 6-4 to LeTourneau University in nonconference play. With the loss, ETBU ends the preseason nonconference schedule 6-4.

Four players for ETBU had two hits including Landen Barns, Jeremy Bateman, Zach Gartner, and Seth Mikeska with Barns and Mikeska getting an RBI along with Dylan Singletary. Starter Zackery Pierce, who took the loss, finished with 1.1 IP allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits and struck out one batter. Alex Arellano (1.1 IP, one hit), Call Florence (1.0 IP, one run, two hits), Chad Boudreaux (2.0 IP, three hits, two strikeouts), and John Marrs (2.0 IP, one hit, three strikeouts) would each appear in the game.  For LETU, Luke Ludwig got the win with 6.0 IP allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out five. Ryder Lognion picked up his first save with a hitless inning. Gonzalo Sosa, Bubba Valdez, Carson Dickey, Lee Hosie, Weston McKinley, Gonzalo Sosa, and Bubba Valdez would each get two hits with the latter two driving in two RBI.

ETBU started the game with two runs in the top of the first as a leadoff triple by Bateman and a walk to KJ Miller set up a double steal that would allow Bateman to score for a 1-0 lead. After an LETU error, Mikeska then drove the second run in on a groundout to first to lead 2-0. But after Pierce retired the first two batters in the bottom of the first, he gave up a solo home run to Valdez to cut the lead to 2-1. One inning later, the Yellow Jackets would put up four runs to grab a 5-2 lead on a few ETBU errors and an RBI single.

ETBU would get a run back when Singletary drove in Mikeska on a single to trail 5-3 in the top of the fourth. But a double play to the next batter ended the inning. LETU threatened in the bottom of the fifth when the first two hitters reached on base by a walk and single. Two outs later, the score was 6-3 as LETU struck again on a single. The score stayed the same until the top of the eighth inning when a Gartner double and a one-out single by Mikeska was followed by an RBI single by Barns to cut the lead to 6-4. However, a strikeout and a deep fly out to right kept ETBU from driving the tying runs in. ETBU would have one final rally as Jack Hanstad led off the ninth with a single. After Lognion came in relief, he struck out the next two hitters before giving up a two-out walk to Gartner. In the end, Casey Combs grounded back to the pitcher to end the game.
 
ETBU returns home to Woods Field for their first ASC Conference action against Hardin-Simmons. Friday night's game starts at 7:00 PM while Saturday's doubleheader takes place at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.