SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Howard Payne softball team opened their 2015 season with 6-0 and 11-4 double header loses to Our Lady of the Lake University Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Jackets were held to just one hit in game one of the double header. HPU's Celese Tirres pitched six innings allowing eight hits and striking out three in 26 at bats.

In the top of the seventh, Kodi Glossen recorded the only hit for Howard Payne.

In the second game, HPU took the lead in the first inning. Taylor Rushing advanced to third base on an OLLU error. Rushing would later score on a wild pitch.

OLLU scored two in the second to take a 2-1 lead on a fielding error and a single to center field.

HPU tied it at 2-2 in the second inning. Glosson advanced to second on a bunt from Adrienne Sanchez. Kennedy Coffin hit a single allowing Glosson to get the Yellow Jackets on the board.

OLLU would again retake the lead in the bottom of the inning this time a two run homerun and a fielding error by the Lady Jackets. 5-2 OLLU

In the third inning, Rushing singled to right and advanced to second on a pass ball. Erin McLeod hit a two-run home run to cut the lead to 5-4.

Three more runs were brought in by the Saints in the inning for an 8-4 lead. One run in the fourth and two in the fifth would seal the 11-4 win.

Rushing finished with two hits and McLeod led with two RBIs. Rushing got the loss in the circle allowing 11 runs on 11 hits and striking out six.

Howard Payne will play next on Tuesday at home versus Huston Tillotson University at 1:00 pm.
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