Brownwood, Texas - The Howard Payne Baseball Club defended the Don with a 14-6 victory over the visiting Beavers of Blackburn on Tuesday afternoon.
The Howard Payne offense continued to put up runs this week, adding 14 in this contest, to gain a big boost of confidence.
Blackburn struck in the 1st going up 1-0, but HPU popped back on an RBI single from Derek Gifford that scored Jonathan McKay. Nolyn Box then walked RJ Roberts in to go up 2-1. Blackburn battled back and tied the ball game up 2-2 in the 3rd.
The Jackets took the lead back 6-2 in the 3rd. Rylee McGee singled home Gifford and Roberts to start the inning. Cade Varrichio then singled home Stephen Prewitt and Rylee McGee rounded out the scoring after a SAC fly from Joey Villarreal plated him. The Beavers added one in the 4th to make it 6-3, but McKay's single in the 5th scored Villarreal and Box to go up 8-3. Prewitt scored in the 6th on a wild pitch to add one more to the lead at 9-3.
Blackburn plated two in the 7th to bring things closer at 9-5, but HPU's 4 run 7th broke the game open. Varrichio scored on an error, and McKay singled home Wert. Villarreal then scored on a wild pitch and McKay come home to score later that inning to make the score 13-5.
Wylon Kolts singled home Noah Cornoado to round out the Jackets scoring at 14 and the Beavers added one in the 9th to make the final 14-6.
Derek Gifford and Jonathan McKay led the offense with three hits. McKay also led with three RBIs.
JT Howard got the start and went 4 innings giving up three runs, one earned. Ty Garner got the win on the mound going 1.2 innings only allowing one hit. Nick Diaz added a strikeout in his 1/3 of an inning, and Johnny Cravey, Bryant Chambers and Xavier Haines combined for the final three innings to finish the contest.
The Jackets improve to 8-11, 4-5 in ASC play, and will get ready to be back at the Don on the 20th of March to battle the Eagles of The Ozarks. The first pitch will be at 1:00 pm and you can find links to live stats and video at HPUSports.com.
