BROWNWOOD, Texas – Although the Yellow Jackets had six errors through three innings, it would be a walk and an error by Southwestern Assemblies of God University that would hand the Howard Payne University baseball team the 6-4 win Tuesday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.
HPU starting pitcher Gilbert Barrera would have a nice day, striking out six batters with just two hits and one walk through five innings. His relief would run into problems, but would sort it out in the end.
After being behind 2-0 through five innings, the Jackets would nab one run in the bottom of the sixth when Carlton Brown scored Taylor Zambreski on a sacrifice fly to center field.
HPU would take over the lead in the seventh inning scoring three more runs on a two out-rally. It would get started when Jordan Hammontree hit a double to left center scoring pinch runner Ryan Abbott from second base. Following that Zambreski would triple scoring Hammontree, and then Ben Butler would follow that with a double of his own scoring Zambreski from third, putting the Jackets on top 4-2.
The Lions of SAGU would answer back in the eighth inning when DuJuan Prater hit a home run to left field, followed by two straight triples from Jared Denton and Cameron Ward. That would be enough to tie the game up at four. After three straight hits, HPU pitcher Will Hood would take over for relief pitcher Robert Anders and get three straight outs to get the Jackets out of the eighth.
Into the bottom of the eighth, the Jackets would load the bases with a hit by pitch, and two walks. The run to take the lead would come on the Lions’ third walk of the inning to score Houston Holmes, giving the Jackets a 5-4 lead. But before the Lions could get out of the inning, their catcher Denton would short hand his throw to pitcher Jared Jones, bouncing the ball to him and allowing Will Garlick to steal home and extend HPU’s lead to 6-4.
Kevin Young would come in to close the game for the Jackets in the ninth. He would walk his first batter, but then sit down the next three for the save.
The Jackets get to double digit wins at 10-16 overall on the year, while SAGU goes to 9-25.
The next series for the Jackets starts at 2 p.m. Friday, March 8 against McMurry University at Don Shepard Park in Brownwood. The two are tied at 5-7, the fifth spot in West division, and are fighting for a spot in the conference tournament.
Photo: Gilbert Barrera struck out six batters over five innings. Photo by HPU Sports Information.
