Lady Jackets Take Series From HSU

Tylene Middleton

HPU Sports Information

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
ABILENE, Texas – The Howard Payne softball team secured the third spot in the final American Southwest Conference West Division standings with a 12-3 win over Hardin-Simmons University Saturday afternoon. HPU lost game one of the double header 11-7.

Finishing third in the ASC West Division gives the Lady Jackets a higher seed in next week's American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament.

In game one, the Lady Jackets were fueled by a homerun by Shandi Winstead and two by Amanda Cruddas.

After a four-run fifth by Hardin-Simmons, the Lady Jackets found themselves down 7-4. HPU would answer in the next inning with a three-run frame. A Tylene Middleton single to center field would score Evangelina Tellez and Katie Poerner. Then a Haleigh Caraway single would bring home Middleton to tie the game at 7-7.

It came down to the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded when HSU hit a walk-off grand slam to win 11-7.

Keeley Lowrance would gain the loss for HPU giving up 11 runs on 12 hits, striking out seven and walking five. Middleton finished 3-for-5 from the plate.

The Lady Jackets scored early and often in game two claiming the win 12-3 after five innings. After jumping put to a 5-0 lead, Howard Payne put the game away with a five-run fourth and two-run fifth.

Howard Payne had 15 total hits with Caraway leading going 3-for-4 from the plate. Baillie Trumble picked up her 10th win of the year allowing just three hits and walking none.

Howard Payne is now 20-19 overall and 15-9 in ASC West Division play. Hardin-Simmons now stands at 12-25-1 overall and 10-14 in conference. The Lady Jackets season continues next weekend at the 2013 ASC Championship Tournament in Farmers Branch, Texas. Official tournament schedule will be announced Monday morning.


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