BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne softball team fell 4-3 in extra innings and 7-4 in the second of a conference double header with Hardin-Simmons University Friday afternoon at Lady Jacket Field.

It was tied at 3-3 going into the eighth but a HPU error in Hardin-Simmons' next at bat allowed what would end up being the winning run to score. The Lady Jackets then grounded out twice and popped up to end the game 4-3 Hardin-Simmons.

In the first, Erin McLeod singled up the middle to score Allison Eaton scored to give HPU a 1-0 lead. Later in the sixth, Cherita,George singled up the middle to plate McLeod scored and bring the Lady Jackets to within one, 3-2. To round out the HPU scoring Gaby Muniz doubled to left field to score Kodi Glosson in the seventh to tie the game at 3-3.

Taylor Rushing struckout three in the start going five innings and allowing two runs.,Celese Tirres picked up the loss in three innings of relief, 6-14 on the year.

Again in game two of the double header, the game would be tied in the late innings, this time 4-4 going into the sixth. Hardin-Simmons this time scored a single run in the sixth and two in the seventh to win 7-4.

Howard Payne got all four of their runs in the fifth.,McLeod walked with the bases loaded to score Adrienne Sanchez. Kennedy,Coffin then scored on a wild pitch. Next a Shando,Winstead sac bunt plated Muniz and a failed pickoff attempt allowed McLeod to score from third and tie the game.

Tayler Rushing led HPU going 2-for-4 from the plate. Rushing also got the loss in relief, now at 4-8 on the year, she went three innings allowing three runs. Celese Tirres went four innings in the start allowing four runs on seven hits.

The two teams will finish out the conference weekend series with a single game on Saturday starting at 12:00 noon.