BROWNWOOD, Texas – Errors by the Howard Payne softball team proved to be the difference in the conference double header. Mary Hardin-Baylor took the first game 5-3 and the second 12-6 in extra innings.
UMHB got on the board first in the first game of the doubleheader with an RBI single down the right field line, scoring a run from second. HPU's
Shandi Winstead responded with an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to even the contest at 1-1.
UMHB responded in the top of the third with a two RBI single, scoring two. Howard Payne then put together a two-run fourth inning with RBI from Eric McLeod and Winstead to even the game once again.
Hinojosa responded for UMHB, reaching on a throwing error and scoring two for the 5-3 lead.
Yellow Jackets had three runs on seven hits with two errors while UMHB totaled five runs on seven hits with one error.
Celese Tirres recorded the loss in relief for HPU giving up two runs on one hit.
Tayler Rushing threw 5.0 innings in the start giving up three runs on six hits.
Howard Payne took an early 1-0 lead in the second game with a walked-in run.
UMHB responded in the top of the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice. After an RBI single, another UMHB player reached on a Yellow Jacket error, scoring two. UMHB held the 4-1 lead until the top of the sixth scoring two on two RBI doubles.
Howard Payne responded with five runs in the final two innings of play to tie the game at 6-6 and send the contest into extra innings. A
Shandi Winstead double to left center with the bases loaded scored three to pull HPU to within one.
UMHB used a six-run top of the eighth inning to gain the 12-6 lead. Howard Payne was not able to respond, giving the UMHB the extra-inning victory.
The Lady Jackets had six runs on seven hits with six errors. Winstead finished the game 2-for-5 from the plate with three RBIs. Tirres got the loss in game two striking out three in the complete game.
Howard Payne moves to 3-6 on the season and 1-4 in ASC play. UMHB stands at 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference. The two teams finish out the three games series tomorrow with a single game at 11 am in Brownwood.
