Howard Payne University baseball is swept in a double header Saturday by visiting Hardin-Simmons University, losing the first game 8-5, and the second 10-6 at Don Shepard Park.
Hardin-Simmons took the lead early in the first game, putting up one run in the first, and two in the second inning. However, Howard Payne would answer back in the bottom of the fourth with a 2 RBI double from Brian Cunningham and a RBI double from Sam Dollahite, tying it up at 3-3.
Both the Cowboys and the Jackets would put up one each in the fifth inning, with a RBI single from Ryan Breeding, sending Kyle Lloyd in to score, but it would be HSU who took the game in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs, three earned, off of one HPU error.
The Jackets would score one in the final inning off a RBI single from Jake Dean, however would end the game three behind Hardin-Simmons 8-5.
Dollahite went 2-3 on the game, scoring one run, while Taylor Zambreski went 2-4 with one RBI, also scoring one run for the Jackets.
HSU’s Tyler Brunnemann would get the win and Robert Anders would be charged with the loss for HPU in his 2.2 innings pitched.
In the second game of the series, the Jackets trailed 6-3 going to the top of the sixth. HSU pulled away when they got three more runs, two of which came from a triple from LeJuan Edwards to make it a six run deficit, 9-3 in the sixth.
HPU tried mustering up a comeback when Carlton Brown hit a two-run homer to left center in the seventh to make the game 10-5. HPU would tack on one more in the bottom of the ninth only to come up short, 10-6.
Billy Ray Cruz received the loss pitching six innings allowing seven hits, four earned runs and striking out four. HSU’s Sam Walker pitched 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on 12 hits.
HPU goes to 13-14 overall and 4-8 in the ASC. HSU moves to 15-12 and 9-3 in the ASC.
The Jackets will be back in action in a double header against Dallas Christian College at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 5 in Richardson.
