MARSHALL- The Howard Payne University's Lady Jacket softball team ends their season today with an 8-1 loss to UT Dallas in the first round of the 2019 American Southwest Conference Softball Championship Tournament, it was the Lady Jackets first appearance in the tournament since 2013. 

Despite the Lady Jackets being outhit (13-4) in the game, it was a narrow game all the way throughout and came down to the final inning of the game.

Aurora Luera stepped into the box first for the Lady Jackets doubling to right center at the bottom of the first inning, and then reached third on a sac bunt from Tonya Thompson. Alexis Sullivan would then reach on a fielding error by the right fielder, brining in Luera for HPU's first run of the game. 

After the two runs from the comets in the first inning, the Lady Jackets were able to hold off the UT Dallas from the second to the seventh inning keeping the score at 2-1.

Link to post game interview

Tia Campos started in the circle for the Lady Jackets pitching six innings and facing two batters in the top of the 7th. She would allow 7 runs on 12 hits, while earning three strikeouts. Lady Jacket Audrey Simpson came into relief Campos at the top of the 7th inning facing two batters, before getting the last out of the game, ending the game with the 8-1 loss. 

Lady Jackets Ragen Noriega, Tonya Thompson, Aurora Luera and Melinda Mendoza each recorded a hit for HPU. 

This ends a season of accomplishments for the 2019 Lady Jackets, being able to end a six-year conference tournament appearance slump and working to increase their wins by eight games compared to their 2018 recorded. Howard Payne would also have two players awarded ASC hitter and pitcher of the week honors this season.