Abram Choate, SID
HPU sports information
AUSTIN, TX…Craig Simpson (Brownwood, TX/BHS) blasted three homeruns and slugged in six runs as the Jackets dropped two out of three games to the Tornadoes of Concordia University of Austin. Simpson's last long ball extended the Jackets late inning lead to help secure a 9-6 victory in the series finale.
In the opening game of the series the Tornadoes out slugged HPU 17-4 to give them their worst defeat on the year. CUA scored 12 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to break open the game.
Tye Moore (Arlington, TX/Tyler JC) reached on an error to lead off the game. Simpson would single him in a few batters later to give HPU an early 1-0 lead. The Jackets would surrender three in the bottom of the first and one in the second falling behind 4-1. A solo-homer by Simpson would provide a run in the third for HPU.
Simpson, Lee Morrison (San Angelo, TX/Lake View HS) and Cole Ramsey (Academy, TX/Wayland) each had two hits.
Kelly Henderson (Arlington, TX/Tyler JC) received the loss, throwing five innings giving up 11 runs on 10 hits.
HPU would give up a late inning home run and commit an error in the outfield to allows the game-tying and winning run to cross the plate in the bottom of the seventh to give CUA a 3-2 come-from-behind victory.
Jason Barnes () and Adam Garcia () each went 2-for-3 in the game. Garcia and Ramsey each had an RBI.
HPU scored their runs in the fourth. Simpson and Gilbert Curiel (Corpus Christi, TX/WTAMU) each crossed the plate.
Doug Wren (Arlington, TX/Tyler JC) took the mound throwing six and a third innings allowing seven hits and two earned runs.
Three Jackets would pound four home runs in Saturday's 9-6 victory in game two of the double header. Barnes, Ramsey and Simpson each put the ball over the fence. Simpson hit two.
Simpson finished with four RBIs, three extra base hits and two runs scored. Morrison finished 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Simpson's would knock his third homer of the series in the top of the ninth to cap off a five run inning for HPU. His three RBIs would end up being the game winning runs.
HPU will travel to Richardson to play a double header against UT-Dallas on Tuesday. The games start at 1:00 pm.
