BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University softball team split a doubleheader vs. Sul Ross State University on Friday afternoon. Winning the first game 4-3 in extra innings and losing game two, 8-0.

Tonya Thompson pitched nine complete innings over two games and hit the RBI walk-off single to left field to win game one, 4-3 in nine innings. Haley Slater finished with a double, a run scored, and three hits and Kayla Boucher added three hits of her own during the doubleheader.

The Lady Jackets were without the services of a few key players for the matchup vs. the Lobos. Head Coach Jose Mata, "We are playing hard, we just need to find consistency with the healthy players that we have."

Sul Ross started the day's scoring with a home run to left field in the top of the second. They would hold onto the lead until the bottom of the fourth inning when Gabrielle Roque helped to a spark a two-out rally. 

Roque singled up the middle and Kayle Boucher followed with a big time hit to center field to help put the Lady Jackets into scoring position. Kodi Glosson would bring around Roque and tie the score up at 1-1 after a hard hit ball to second base.

Sul Ross responded in the ensuing inning by getting runners into scoring position, but Hillary Jackson turned a beautiful play to help Howard Payne get out of the inning unscathed. Haley Slater started the bottom of the inning with a hit by a pitch and Kailey Cargill checked into pinch run for her. After a successful bunt single from Tonya Thompson, the Lady Jackets were threatening to score once again.

Kailey Cargill and Tonya Thompson would both come around to score and help give Howard Payne it's first lead of the day, 3-1. But the Lobo's fought tough and scored two runs in the sixth to notch the score back up at 3-3 and force things into extra innings. The two teams would go scoreless over the next 2.5 innings until Tonya Thompson's single to left field brought in Hailey Slater and gave the Lady Jackets the 4-3 win in nine innings.

Game two saw some superior pitching from the Lobo's as they registered a shutout over seven innings. They used two three-run innings, in the third and fifth, to build a 6-0 lead. They would score two more times in the seventh to give themselves some insurance and then hold to get the 8-0 win. 

Audrey Simpson and Tonya Thompson split time in the circle for Howard Payne. Rachel Hitt and Haley Slater both finished the game hitting 2-3 from behind the plate but the Lady Jackets were unable to round the bases and fell to 1-1 in their series vs. Sul Ross State University.

Next up for the Lady Jackets is the series finale vs. Sul Ross State University slated to begin tomorrow at 11:00 AM. If you can't make it out to Lady Jacket Field tomorrow afternoon, stay tuned to Facebook.com/HPUSports for live video and hpusports.com for live stats. 

Also, follow along on Twitter @HPUSoftball and on Instagram @HPUSports for in-game updates, interactive content, and more.