BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University softball team fell 6-2 and 4-0 to Hardin-Simmons University on Friday afternoon at Lady Jacket Park.

The two sides were tied, 2-2 through four innings of play before the Cowgirls (11-13, 8-12 ASC) rallied to score three unanswered runs in the fifth inning to take the 6-2 victory during game one of the doubleheader.

The Howard Payne offense finished just one hit shy of Hardin-Simmons' total of nine, but the Cowgirls were able to lean on their pitching staff down the stretch to secure the 4-0 shutout win in game two. 

Audrey Simpson finished the first game 2-2 from behind the plate with a double, two walks and one run scored. Tayler Rushing was 2-4 with a RBI and one run scored and Gabrielle Roque went 1-2 with a RBI and a walk. Tonya Thompson and Audrey Simpson split time in the circle for the Lady Jackets, combining to face 40 batters over seven innings.

Rachel Hitt was 2-4 from behind the plate in game two with two singles and Kodi Glosson and Haley Slater each finished 2-3 in the 4-0 loss. Howard Payne would use the pitching trio of Madison Witherwax, Tonya Thompson and Audrey Simpson in the game two matchup and they combined to face 31 batters in the contest.

Hardin-Simmons started off the day by scoring one run in the day's first inning. After taking a hit-by-pitch to start the inning, the Cowgirls went about rounding their lead-off batter into scoring position. After a ground out to third base, a fielding error from the Lady Jackets let the runner score. 

The Lady Jackets answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game back up at 1-1. Audrey Simpson led off with a double to right-center to start the inning and Tayler Rushing would bring her around to score on a single. 

The Cowgirls led off the second inning with outfield doubles to bring in one run and take a 2-1 advantage. Howard Payne would again respond with a one-run inning in the third to notch the score back up at 2-2. Tayler Rushing led off the inning with an outfield single up the middle, stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Rushing would be waiting on third when Gabrielle Roque singled to right field to bring her in and tie the game back up at 2-2.

Both sides went scoreless in the fourth inning and remained tied up until the Cowgirls went off for three unanswered runs in the fifth inning. They would score one more insurance run in the seventh inning and hold on to pick up the 6-2 victory in seven innings.

In Game two, Hardin-Simmons would collect four one-run innings, all unanswered, and then lean on their pitching staff to help deliver a 4-0 win and conclude the day with a two-game sweep.  

The Lady Jacket will host the Cowgirls for the series finale tomorrow at 12:00 PM. If you can't make it out to Lady Jacket Park for the action, you can access live stats and more on HPUSports.com