AUSTIN, Texas – The Howard Payne University baseball team capped day two of the Concordia University tournament with a 10-7 win over LeTourneau University after losses to #22 Trinity and host Concordia on Friday.
On Friday, the Yellow Jackets had game one of a double header with #22 Trinity University. The Jackets offense never got started as Trinity held HPU to just one hit. Corey Howie got the start for HPU and the loss to start the season. Reed Klose and Derrick Berlanga also saw action for the Jackets on the mound. Trinity’s Fink got the win throwing eight innings and striking out nine.
In game two, the Jackets were able to get some late offense but not before tournament host Concordia scored 15 unanswered runs. Howard Payne picked up all three of their runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Abbott started it off with a single through the left side. Colton Buzzard then had a RBI triple to score Abbott. Houston Holmes would next double down the right field line scoring Buzzard. Jordan Hammontree singled up the middle scoring Holmes for their third run.
Five different pitchers saw action for HPU with Carlton Brown getting the start and loss. Concordia’s Weinschenk got the win striking out five in five innings of work.
On Saturday, the Jackets started to put it together against LeTourneau. HPU gave up runs in the first two innings to fall behind 2-0. The Jackets got RBI singles in the third and fourth innings from Buzzard and Jake Sadler to tie the game 2-2. HPU gained a 5-2 lead after a three-run fifth.
Abbott walked and later advanced to third then scoring on an error by pitcher. A Ben Butler RBI single to center field would score Buzzard. Jordan Hammontree used a SAC bunt to advance Butler to second and Holmes to third. A Carlton Brown flied SAC fly would score Holmes for the third run.
LeTourneau added four runs over the next three innings to take the 6-5 lead after seven innings of play. HPU used a huge eighth frame to gain a 10-6 lead. The Jackets took advantage of some Letu pitching errors to load the bases and score. Houston Holmes, Ben Butler and Jordan Hammontree picked up RBIs to complete the scoring.
With Gibert Barrera starting the game for HPU, Jonathan Morris would pick up the win in relief and Ben Butler recorded the save throwing in the closing 1.2 innings.
The Jackets stand at 1-2 overall to start the season and will play next on Feb 24th and 25th in Pineville, LA against Louisiana College.
