Brownwood, Texas – The Jackets took both games of Senior Day's Saturday double header 12-11 on a walk-off and a 9-3 victory against the Cowboys of Hardin-Simmons. Howard Payne also clinched the number one seed and the right to host the Blue Bracket of the American Southwest Conference.
Game One
In front of a record breaking crowd at Don Shepard Park, Howard Payne trailed Hardin-Simmons by an 11-6 margin heading into the bottom of the seventh of Game 1.
David Groves started the 7th with a walk, then Jacob Salazar was hit by a pitch with one out. Jacob Rodriguez then laced a two-RBI double to left field, reducing the Cowboys' lead to 11-8. Noah Coronado grabbed a pinch hit singled to right field, which set the stage for the NCAA's leader for triples this season — Noah Payne — who blasted Howard Payne's third home run of the game, a game tying three-run bomb over the left field wall that evened the game at 11 apiece.
With two outs, Ty McCain was able to reach on an error. Pinch-runner Keldon Crawford then was able to move to second base on a passed ball, Rylee McGee then delivered the game-winning RBI single to left center, scoring Crawford to help Howard Payne complete their 8th come from behind win of the season and their 5th walk-off.
Noah Payne and Jacob Rodriguez both had 2 hits for the Jackets. Payne had 3 RBIs and Jacob Salazar added 4. David Groves also crossed the plate 3 times.
Bryson Lyro got the start for the Jackets going 2 innings, giving up 11 hits and 7 runs while striking out one. Xavier Haines was able to pick up the win, tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with one hit allowed and one strikeout.
Game Two
Jackets opened to 3-0 advantage in the first inning and never looked back. HPU increased the cushion to 5-1 in the third, 8-1 in the fourth and scored its final run in the fifth.
Joshua Gerig and Nolyn Box both had three hits for the Jackets. Box also added 5 RBIs and Gerig scored three times.
Chandler Clark got the start for Howard Payne going five innings, giving up seven hits and 1 run, unearned while striking out two. Graham White and Seth Owen also turned in scoreless appearances.
The Jackets improved to 25-14 on the season, 16-4 in the ASC. Howard Payne will be back at it tomorrow with the first pitch scheduled to be thrown at 1:30 pm here at Don Shepard Park. The first game of the American Southwest Conference Tournament will be on Thursday, May 2nd. Times and teams to be named later.
