Abram Choate, SID
BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University softball team clinched an ASC playoff birth by taking 3 of 4 games in the series with Hardin-Simmons at Jacket Field this weekend.
Howard Payne won both games on Friday 3-2, 2-0 and lost game one on Saturday 0-1 but took game two 5-4 to clinch the ASC playoff birth.
For Hardin-Simmons the loss in game two on Saturday eliminated the Cowgirls from the ASC playoff race.
The Jackets improve to 23-13 overall and 14-6 in ASC action, while Hardin-Simmons falls to 16-14 overall, 10-10 in ASC play.
HPU pitcher Jenna Middleton was 1-1 with a save in the series. Kate McLaughlin went 2-0 with a win on Friday and Saturday.
HSU's Laura Rawlings got 2 losses and the one win for the Cowgirls. Lacie Cole received the other loss for the Cowgirls.
Justine Ferrell-Raborn had 5 hits on 10 at bats for the Lady Jackets in the series. Kristi Pinkerton recorded 4 hits and 5 other Lady Jackets recorded 3 hits in the series.
HSU's Sadye Hill recorded 6 hits in the series and Cricket Criner added 5 hits. Each had two RBI in the series.
Howard Payne will travel to Concordia University Texas in Austin on Thursday for a four-game series to closeout the regular season.
Howard Payne Univ. 3, Hardin-Simmons 2 (Apr 18, 2008 at Brownwood, TX) (Game 1)
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Hardin-Simmons...... 000 200 0 - 2 8 1 (15-12, 9-8 ASC)
Howard Payne Univ... 003 000 X - 3 8 0 (21-12, 12-5 ASC)
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Pitchers: Hardin-Simmons - Rawlings. Howard Payne Univ. - Middleton.
Win-Middleton Loss-Rawlings T-1:45 A-160
HR HSU - Hill.
Howard Payne Univ. 2, Hardin-Simmons 0 (Apr 18, 2008 at Brownwood, Texas) (Game 2)
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Hardin-Simmons...... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 (15-13, 9-9 ASC)
Howard Payne Univ... 000 020 X - 2 6 1 (22-12, 13-5 ASC)
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Pitchers: Hardin-Simmons - Rawlings. Howard Payne Univ. - McLaughlin; Hall(7).
Win-McLaughlin Save-Hall Loss-Rawlings T-2:05 A-165
HR HPUSB - Lee.
McLaughlin faced 2 batters in the 7th.
Hardin-Simmons 1, Howard Payne Univ. 0 (Apr 19, 2008 at Brownwood, Texas) (Game 1)
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Hardin-Simmons...... 000 001 0 - 1 5 0 (16-13, 10-9 ASC)
Howard Payne Univ... 000 000 0 - 0 5 3 (22-13, 13-6 ASC)
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Pitchers: Hardin-Simmons - Rawlings. Howard Payne Univ. - Middleton.
Win-Rawlings Loss-Middleton T-1:50 A-225
Howard Payne Univ. 5, Hardin-Simmons 4 (Apr 19, 2008 at Brownwood, Texas) (Game 2)
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Hardin-Simmons...... 100 030 0 - 4 8 3 (16-14, 10-10 ASC)
Howard Payne Univ... 100 400 X - 5 8 3 (23-13, 14-6 ASC)
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Pitchers: Hardin-Simmons - Cole; Rawlings(4). Howard Payne Univ. - Hall; McLaughlin(3);
Middleton(6).
Win-McLaughlin Save-Middleton Loss-Cole T-2:10 A-210
