The Howard Payne University softball loses the final two games of their conference series with Hardin-Simmons University 4-1 and 5-3 but still secure a spot in the American Southwest Conference tournament next weekend.
Despite the losses, Howard Payne secured the third slot in the ASC West Division standings and spot in the ASC tournament due to a Concordia loss to Schreiner. The ASC will release the official tournament information and bracket by Monday morning. HPU will play at 2:30 on Thursday in the first round of the tournament in Farmers Branch, Texas.
HSU got on the scoreboard in the first inning with a two-run double. Evangelina Tellez had an RBI single to left in the second inning to bring the Lady Jacket to within one. HSU put the game away with two runs in the sixth on an RBI double and an RBI single.
Kayla Castillo went the distance for Howard Payne and took the loss. Katie Poerner and Kimble Luna had two hits each for Howard Payne.
In the second game HSU won the game on two runs in the eighth inning. Howard Payne scored on a squeeze bunt by Luna in the first inning and it stayed that way until the fifth inning when HSU took the lead with two-run double.
HPU answered with two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Brittany Johnson and an RBI double by Jessica Morales. HSU tied it with a run in the sixth on a RBI single to center.
In the eighth inning, HSU scored on a double and an RBI single. HPU would have the bases loaded in the bottom of the seven with just one out but would be unable to bring any home Baillie Trumble took the loss for Howard Payne. Tellez and Katie Poerner had two hits each to pace HPU.
The Howard Payne University Yellow Jackets drop the final two games of their conference series with Hardin-Simmons University 5-4 and 2-0.
Howard Payne led 4-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning of game one. HSU scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie the game and send the scheduled seven-inning game to an eighth inning.
In the fourth, Carlton Brown had a two-run double for HPU. Abbott added an RBI single in the fifth to make it 3-0 and Tyrone Ahin had an RBI single in the fifth to make it 4-1.
Gilbert Barrerra allowed just two runs in five and two-third innings for HPU. Ben Butler took the loss in relief allowing three runs in an inning and two-thirds. Abbott, Brown and Ahin had two hits each for HPU.
In the second game, which by league rule is shortened to seven innings if the originally scheduled seven-inning game goes to extra innings, HSU pitchers Stewart Person and James Simmons combined on a two-hit shutout of the Yellow Jackets.
Hardin-Simmons got the only two runs they would need in the third and sixth innings.
Ahin and John Elmore had the two HPU hits. Jonathan Morris went the distance for HPU allowing six hits and two runs to fall to 4-5.
Howard Payne finished the year at 14-24 overall and 8 -16 in American Southwest Conference play.
