MARSHALL, TX -- The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets took a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, but could not hang on and fell 7-2 to the East Texas Baptist Tigers Friday.
Anthony Cook (1-1) came out of the bullpen for Howard Payne (7-9, 3-4) and took the loss. Gary Blair was a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets, starting the ballgame and throwing 7.2 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits, with no walks and five strikeouts.
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets were led by Derek Gifford, who went 3-for-5 on the day with a double. Tanner Benson put together a standout performance as well, going 2-for-5 with a double. Jackson Earle also chipped in for Howard Payne, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Yellow Jackets got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Gifford came across to score the lone run of the inning for Howard Payne and get them on the board.
The Tigers failed to push any runs across before the Yellow Jackets built on their lead in the fourth inning. Benson came across to score the lone run of the inning for Howard Payne, which brought the Yellow Jackets lead to 2-0. The Yellow Jackets were unable to hold the lead, as East Texas Baptist scored seven times over the remaining five innings to grab the 7-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Gifford led the Yellow Jackets, amassing three base hits in the ballgame.
» Howard Payne's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed one run across.
» Four Howard Payne hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Howard Payne left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Tigers at an 11-10 clip.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 37 East Texas Baptist hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out five.
» Gifford led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double.
» East Texas Baptist was led offensively by H. Rumachik, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.
» J. Neely led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing six innings of two-run ball.
The Yellow Jackets will close out the three-game series versus East Texas Baptist on Saturday in double-header fashion with games set for 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM in Marshall, Texas.
