SHERMAN, Texas - The Howard Payne University softball overcame a four-run deficit to defeat Austin College 12-4 during the first game of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. However, a late rally fell short during the second game and the Lady Jackets dropped the contest, 8-5 to split the series.
 
Kayla Boucher hit her first home run of the season, a grand slam, while Audrey Simpson pitched three full innings of shutout softball to help drive Howard Payne to a 12-8 victory in game one.
 
Kayla Dickerson tripled and drove in two runs, but the Roos were able to get out to an early 5-1 lead and held on despite a late Howard Payne rally to pick up the 8-5 win in game two. Shawneece Jones scored two runs and went 2-3 from the plate with a double and a walk in the loss.
 
Austin College got out to a quick start, putting runners on base and punching one across in the first inning before going off for three more runs in the second while holding the Lady Jackets scoreless. to lead 4-0.
 
Junior Kayla Dickerson got the scoring started for Howard Payne in the top of the third when her single to left field scored Moregan Schultz. Kayla Boucher followed with an RBI single to the same spot and Shawneece Jones rounded out the scoring with a double down the left-field line to tie the game up at 4-4.
 
The Lady Jackets then used the momentum they gained from their four-run third inning to hold Austin College scoreless in the bottom of the inning. They went on to load the bases to start the fourth and Kayla Dickerson drew a walk to score Gabrielle Roque. That sparked what would become a six-run inning for Howard Payne.
 
Kayla Boucher next stepped to the plate with the bases still loaded and blasted a glad slam over the centerfield wall. But the Lady Jackets weren't finished, Alizebeth Moreno drew a walk and Shawneece Jones scored on the wild pitch to help give Howard Payne the 10-4 lead to close out the inning.
 
A Tonya Thompson and Kayla Dickerson both doubled to drive in one run each in the fifth inning to force the game into an early close and give Howard Payne the 12-4 result in game one. Audrey Simpson picked up the win while tossing three scoreless innings.
 
Kayla Boucher scored two runs while going 2-4 from the plate with a grand slam and five RBI's while Kayla Dickerson had a double, three RBI's, while scoring two runs and batting 2-3. Tonya Thompson scored three runs and drove in one run with a double in the victory.
 
Austin College responded positively to the loss by starting the next game with five runs in the first two innings. Shawneece Jones scored after Alizabeth Moreno reached on a fielder's choice to break into that lead. After two scoreless innings from both sides, Howard Payne would attempt to strike again.
 
Katelyn Dickerson tripled to left field to score Tonya Thompson and Gabriele Roque responded with a double to right field to score Boucher in the top of the fifth but Austin College responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to maintain a 7-3 lead.
 
Dickerson again tried to spark a rally in the top of the sixth, scoring Audrey Simpson with a liner up the middle but the Roo's answered right back with a one-run inning in the bottom of the frame. Haley Slater's double to left center scored Jones but was too little as Austin College would hold on down the stretch to pick up the 8-5 win.
 
Katelyn Dickerson was 2-4 with two RBI's and a triple, and Shawneece Jones scored two runs and drew a walk while going 2-3 from the plate. Haley Slate and Gabrielle Roque each finished 2-3 from the batter's box with one RBI apiece and Audrey Simpson and Tia Campos each spent time in the circle for the Lady Jackets.
 
Next up for the Lady Jackets is a rematch vs. Huston Tillotson University. This time the games will take place in Brownwood at 1:00 and 3:00 PM respectively on February 13th. Attendance free and all are invited to attend. The live stream can be found on the HPU Sports Facebook page and live stats will be made available at HPUSports.com.