Brownwood, Texas - The Yellow Jacket Baseball Club won a non-conference match up 9-6 against the Pirates of Southwestern University on Tuesday afternoon. Noah Payne also set the American Southwest Conference record for triples in a season with 11.
The Jackets found themselves down 2-0 after the 1st inning of play but were able to tie it up after a Jacob Rodriguez SAC fly in the 1st to score Noah Payne and then in the 2nd, Rodriguez walked in Keldon Crawford to tie it at 2.
Crawford later took one for the team with a hit by pitch to score Jacob Salazar in the 5th, followed by a Cliff Lunceford double down the right field line to plate David Groves and Noah Coronado.
Then in the 7th, with the bases loaded, Noah Payne added to hit stellar day with a grand slam over the left field fence to make the score 9-3.
After a last ditch effort by Southwestern, 9-6 is where the game ended. Â
Noah Payne led the Jackets at the plate going 2-4 with a triple, a home run and 4 RBIs. David Groves and Cliff Lunceford also went 2-4.
Johnny Cravey got the start for HPU going just 1 inning and giving up 1 hit, 2 runs and striking out 1. Eight other Yellow Jacket pitchers found their way to the mound this afternoon, but Graham White would leave the day with the win after tossing 1 inning, giving up 2 hits and striking out one Pirate. Brenden Clanton also earned a save shutting the door in the 9th, his 6th of the season.
Howard Payne improves to 23-14, and stays at 14-4 in ASC play. They will be back at home this Friday for an ASC series against Hardin-Simmons University. Friday will also be Staff Appreciation Day and Free Hot Dog Day at Don Sheppard Park, so make plans to be out there for first pitch at 2:00 pm.
