CLEBURNE, Texas -- Second-seeded LeTourneau advances to the final elimination game with a 12-2 seven-inning run-rule victory over top-seeded Texas Lutheran on Sunday at La Moderna Field. Official Website l Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
Backed by a seven-run fifth inning and a historic performance from Jack Kale, the YellowJackets advance to face McMurry tonight at 7:00 p.m. with a trip to the Championship Game on the line.
Kale becomes just the fifth player in SCAC Tournament history to collect five hits in a game, capped by his walkoff solo homer to induce the run rule.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- LeTourneau put a pair on the board in the second inning, but the Bulldogs responded promptly with a solo homer from Chase Bourgeois and a single from Cole Cravens to tie the game 2-2.
- A seven-run fifth inning pushed LeTourneau to a substantial 9-2 lead, which included a pair of two-RBI singles from Blake Vice and Cody Brady.
- Jake Morris plated a pair with a single to left field in the sixth, and Kale sent the final pitch well over the left field wall to induce the run rule.
- Colt McDowell tossed a complete game for LeTourneau, a career-long seven innings of two-run ball from the freshman.
LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Jack Kale: 5-5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB
- Jake Morris: 2-4, 3 RBI, 3 SB
- Cody Brady: 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SB
- Blake Vice: 1-3, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SB
- Luke Land: 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB
- Colt McDowell: 7.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Chase Bourgeois: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI
- Brayden Sprencel: 2-3, 1 R
- Cole Cravens: 1-3, 1 RBI
- Caleb Small: 2-3, 1 2B
- Jack Grames (LP): 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 K, 3 BB
NOTABLES
- Kale becomes just the sixth player in SCAC Baseball Tournament history to collect five hits in a single game, following last year's five-hit performance from St. Thomas' Alex Trinh.
- This was the third run-rule game of the tournament, just the second tournament to have three games decided by the 10-run rule and the first since 2013 - the first year the 10-run after seven innings rule was installed at the league's postseason event.
- Texas Lutheran, the SCAC Baseball regular season champions, ends the year with a 28-14 record.
UP NEXT
With the win, LeTourneau (25-18) advances to tonight's 7 p.m. game against McMurry in another elimination game. The winner of that game will play Concordia Texas at 12:00 p.m. on Monday in the SCAC Championship game.
