Abram Choate, SID
BROWNWOOD, TX…A Chinesia Rhinehart (Ft. Worth, TX/Southwest HS) RBI bunt single in the bottom of the eighth inning would seal the deal for the Howard Payne softball team (7-13/5-5 ASC) giving them a 1-0 win and their third victory of the weekend over Concordia University-Austin. Tiffany Wolfe (Ft. Worth, TX/N. Crowley HS) grabbed all three wins for HPU. The Jackets won Saturday's first game 2-0.
Wolfe scattered three hits over seven innings, striking out nine of the 26 batters she faced. She recorded multiple strike outs in three innings, including three in the third in the first game. In eight full innings in game two, she struck out five Tornadoes while allowing six hits.
In game one, no team would have more than four batters step up to the plate until the bottom of the sixth, when HPU would have six players bat. Jill McLaughlin (Brock, TX/Grayson CC) would reach on a fielder's choice to give HPU only their third base runner of the game. Tammie Hart (Grapevine, TX/S. Lake Carroll HS) stroke a pinch hit double to score McLaughlin, giving the Yellow Jackets the only run they needed. Amanda Bludworth (Cedar Park, TX/Leander HS) would eventually cross the plate on Dayberly Hopper (Early, TX/EHS) single.
Wolfe would strike out two Tornadoes and field a weak grounder in the top of the seventh to clinch the win for HPU. She would also account for the first HPU hit when she pounded a double to lead off the second inning.
In the second game, CUA would threaten to score early in the ball game but consecutive ground ball outs would strand the runner at third base. HPU's first scoring opportunity came in the second but Bludworth was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple.
Hopper would single to lead off the fourth inning eventually making to third base on a Kasie McCain (Corsicana, TX/Mildred HS) single, but she would be left on third. In the following inning, Quick would lead off with a infield single and steal second base on the ensuing pitch, but the Jackets' bats were unable to bring her home.
Chelsey Densman (Eula, TX/EHS) would track down long foul ball for the final out of the sixth inning killing a potential late rally by the Tornadoes. CUA would begin to threaten again in the top of the seventh when Pepper Henderson doubled with one out, a beautiful throw by, catcher, Candra McKee (Paradise, TX/Northeast CC) to gun down a stealing Henderson would thwart the Tornadoes rally in their last regulation frame.
With two down in the bottom of the seventh, Densman would send a ball into center field to extend the Jackets' bid for a win. McLaughlin would follow with a walk and move Densman into scoring position. Hart would then fly out deep to center field for the final out in regulation.
CUA would put two runners on base in the first extra frame, but Chinesia Rhinehart (Ft. Worth/Southwest HS) would field a ground ball cleanly and toss it to McLaughlin for the third out. Hopper and Wolfe would lead off the eighth with back-to-back singles to left field for the Jackets. With no outs and two runners on, McCain would ground out to move both runners into scoring position for Rhinehart. On the first pitch, Rhinehart would lay down a picture perfect bunt to score Hopper from third for the game winning run.
HPU will host Hardin-Simmons on Tuesday. The double headers begins at 2:00 at Lady Jacket Field.
