BROWNWOOD, Texas – Huston-Tillotson University overcame a seven run deficit and defeated the Howard Payne University softball team, 12-10 in extra innings on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Lady Jackets (2-3) jumped out to an early lead behind some strong hitting from the middle of their lineup. However, the Rams (2-1) never kept fighting and scored four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game up and take it into extra innings. 

After a scoreless eighth inning in which both teams left a runner stranded on base, Huston-Tillotson was able to get two runners on base and into scoring position to start the ninth inning. A double from Zoe Castillo brought in both runners and the Rams would hold on to take the 12-10 victory. 

Kaley Boucher homered in the first inning with two runners on base to give the Lady Jackets an early 3-0 lead. The offense didn't stop there as Hailey Slater would later hit a three-run home run in the third inning to give Howard Payne an 8-3 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning.  

Huston-Tillotson kept battling though and scored five unanswered runs to finish the game and collect the result. Tonya Thompson went 3-4 from behind the plate and Tiffany Hinklemen was 2-3 with and one RBI. Tayler Rushing finished the game with five fielding assists, two hits, a walk and an RBI on 2-4 hitting. 

It was supposed to be game one of two but the second contest was called off as a result of game one going into extra innings and taking over three hours to complete. By the time the second contest had reached extra innings, it had become nighttime and the umpires called the contest off due to darkness.  

Howard Payne was ahead in the contest early only to see Huston-Tillotson battle back and force the game into extra innings, for the second time of the day. The game will be marked as an incomplete and will not count in the standings for either team as a result of the cancelation.