Abram Choate, SID

BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne Lady Jacket softball team defeated Concordia University Texas 5-1 and 3-2 in a double header at Lady Jacket Field Friday afternoon.

In game one Howard Payne posted runs in the first, third, and fourth innings. HPU's big innning came in the third when the Lady Jackets got three runs on one hit and 3 Concordia errors. Concordia did score a run in the top of the seventh leading to HPU's 5-1 win.

Kate McLaughlin led HPU with 3 hits and Jenna Middleton got the win for the Lady Jackets giving up four hits. She also struckout six and walked three.

Game two was much more eventful taking 10 inning to get a deceision. Concordia got on the scoreboard in the top of the first and fifth with one run in each inning. HPU scored one run in the third and with the game on the line scored one in the seventh to send it into extra innnings.

Neither team could score over the next two innings and HPU was able to hold Concordia in the top of the 10th. After Lauren Bollich was placed on second base (tie-break procedure). Lauren Vesely struck out
swinging. McLaughlin grounded out to second pushing Bollich to third. Ashley Silva then got her only hit of the game and singled to right center scoring Bollich for the 3-2 game-winner.

After Melissa Hall started the game and McLaughlin pitched in relief, Jenna Middleton came in and closed out the game to record the win. 

Howard Payne improves to 28-8 overall and16-6 ASC play, while Concordia falls to 19-19 overall and 10-12 ASC action.

The two teams will finish out the series with a double header on Saturday.