JACKSON, MS - Howard Payne University's
Blake Laney and
Benjamin Lewis both homered in game two of the Yellow Jackets double header with Belhaven University Friday evening in conference action. Howard Payne lost game one 8-0 but defeat Belhaven 8-5 in game two.
Game One
The Yellow Jackets were held to just four hits by the Blazers in an 8-0 final.
Dylan Vilaros recorded the loss in the start allowing five runs on six hits while striking out six in five innings.
Kyle Purdes threw the final frame of the seven inning game allowing three runs.
Game Two
The Jackets would outhit Belhaven 10-7 in game two while the pitching trio of
Seth Owen Jonathon George and
Brenden Clanton struck out nine as a group.
Blake Laney got the HPU offense going in the first inning with a two-run homer. Then
Benjamin Lewis followed in the second frame, his solo shot made the game 3-1 Jackets.
In the fifth, Laney singled up the middle to score
Jacob Rodriguez making the game 5-4 HPU.
The Jackets added two runs in the seventh, one on a
Noah Payne triple to left field scoring
Cliff Lunceford then
Jacob Rodriguez reached on an error allowing Payne to score, 6-3 HPU.
HPU added two insurance runs in the 9th when Rodriguez singled through the right side to plate Lunceford and a passed ball allowed Payne to score. Final 8-5 Jackets.
Cliff Lunceford was 3-for-4 at the plate and
Blake Laney was 2-for-4 with three RBI and the home run.
Noah Payne was 2-for-5 with a triple and
Benjamin Lewis was 2-for-3 with a home run.
Seth Owen improved to 4-0 on the year with the win in the start for HPU. Owen allowed three runs on two hits and struck out four. Jonathon George threw 2.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three.
Brenden Clanton went the final 2.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two.
Howard Payne is now 9-3 overall and 1-1 in American Southwest Conference action. Belhaven stands at 4-11 overall and 2-6 in league play. The two teams will finish out the weekend series on Saturday with a single game starting at 1:00 pm.