BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University softball team concluded its 2018 season with a solid performance. But thanks to some stellar pitching, Sul Ross State University was able to register the 9-2 victory in seven full innings of play.
It was senior day and the Lady Jackets honored their lone senior,
Kayla Boucher with a series of gifts for her efforts on and off the field.
The Lady Lobos were able to jump out to a quick start, collecting a 6-0 lead through three innings of play. The Lady Jackets would get on the board until
Shawneece Jones got a hold of a ball to start the bottom of the fourth.
However, due to a throwing error, Jones' hit went down as an error and Lobos pitcher Jackie Gonzalez kept her no-hitter intact.
Haley Slater would play the role of spoiler as she stepped to the plate and delivered a bomb to the left-center wall. The double scored Jones and broke up the no-hitter. But after four, HPU still trailed 8-1.
The Lady Jackets managed to force the game into a full seven innings when in the fifth,
Gabrielle Roque led off with a single up the middle. The Lobos forced two pop-outs in the ensuing at-bats before Jones singled down the left field line to give HPU runners on in scoring position.
Tonya Thompson's beautiful hit down the left field line scored Roque and kept the two-out rally alive. But they were popped up again to end the inning, still trailing, 8-2.
Sul Ross would pick up one more insurance run in the top of the seventh and Howard Payne would fight strong.
Ferrah Ford doubled to left center but the Lady Jackets couldn't bring her around to score and the Lobos would hold on to pick up the 9-2 result.
Morgean Schultz was 2-3 with a walk and Gabby Roque scored one run on 1-3 hitting. Jones had one run and one hit in the contest while
Ferrah Ford and
Haley Slater each recorded doubles on the day.
Howard Payne finishes their 2018 season and will now look forward to building on their core and adding a few key recruits. Keep up with offseason news and updates by visiting HPUsports.com.
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