Abram Choate, SID
ALPINE, Texas - The Howard Payne Lady Jackets remain in first-place in the American Southwest Conference West Division taking 3 out of 4 games from Sul Ross State, 7-0, 2-3, 11-2, 16-1, this past weekend.
Howard Payne delivered 11 hits in Thursday's first game while Sul Ross managed 3. The Lady Jackets plated 4 runs over the first 2 innings while adding 1 and 2 runs in the fifth and seventh respectively.
Howard Payne's Katelyn Gola finished 3 for 3 in game 1 including 2 RBI doubles.
Valerie Olivarez took the loss after 7 complete while HPU's Jill McLaughlin posted the win.
Sul Ross won the hitting battle in game 2 in an 8-5 margin. Both teams combined for 7 errors with HPU committing 4 and the Sul Ross 3.
Sul Ross grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first scoring off a RBI double down the left field line. Sul Ross tacked on 2 more in the Lady Lobo fourth with an infield single and sacrifice bunt to put Sul Ross on top 3-0 after 4 innings.
Sul Ross managed a hit and left a runner stranded in the bottom half of the sixth. In the top of seventh with two runners on base HPU's Chinesia Rhinehart slapped a hard roller to second for the 4-3 put out giving Sul Ross the 3-2 victory.
Sul Ross combined for 8 errors in Friday's double header while Howard committed 1 in game 2.
The Lady Jackets scored in every inning including a 5-run output in the top half of the fourth. Jill McLaughlin posted the win for the Lady Jackets. Sul Ross's Valerie Olivarez took the loss after working the full game.
Howard Payne amassed 19 hits in game 2 while holding the Lady Lobos to 3. HPU scored 8 runs in the first inning and collected 8 more over the next 3.
HPU's Jenna Middleton got the win for Howard Payne. SRSU's Christina Solis was tagged with the loss.
The Lady Jackets will play again next Friday and Saturday at home versus Texas Lutheran.
