BROWNWOOD, TX - The Howard Payne University baseball team was unable to steal a game on the road from Hardin-Simmons dropping game one 4-5 and game two 6-13 in Abilene, Texas on Saturday. 

GAME 1 | Hardin-Simmons 5, Howard Payne 4
Hardin-Simmons' one-run seventh proved to be the difference in the ballgame, as the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets lost a tough one to the Cowboys by the score of 5-4 in game two of a double-header on Saturday

Senior Nicholas Richards (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Howard Payne (9-15, 5-9). Junior Brendan Read started the ballgame and went 4.2 innings, surrendering three runs, one earned, on four hits, walking two and striking out two.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Junior Devin Smith came across to score the lone run of the inning for Howard Payne and get them on the board.

The Cowboys broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the sixth inning, when the Yellow Jackets got back on the scoreboard. Howard Payne scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of senior Tanner Benson, scoring junior Grant Pfaff and sophomore John Garza, which brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets were unable to hold the lead, as Hardin-Simmons scored two times over the remaining one inning to grab the 5-4 win.

GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 35 Hardin-Simmons hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out three.
» Benson led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.
» Hardin-Simmons was led offensively by senior Jett Forrest, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
» Senior Grant Mitzelfelt led the Cowboys pitching staff, throwing seven innings of four-run ball.

GAME 2 | Hardin-Simmons 13, Howard Payne 6
An outstanding offensive output was not enough for Howard Payne on Friday. The Yellow Jackets tallied six runs, but could not hold the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys at bay, and were bested 13-6.

Junior Brayden Ferrie (1-5) started and took the loss on the mound for Howard Payne (9-16, 5-10). Junior Brandon Taylor was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 2.1 innings, surrendering two runs, zero earned, on three hits, walking one and striking out one.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Howard Payne got an RBI single from junior Landon Prestage, scoring sophomore John Garza from second base.

The Yellow Jackets lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the third trailing 6-1. The Howard Payne offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of junior William Burford, which brought the score level at 6-6. Hardin-Simmons then scored seven times over the remaining six innings to break the tie and grab the 13-6 win.

GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed five runs across.
» Howard Payne went 4-for-11 (.364) with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 43 Hardin-Simmons hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Yellow Jackets drew four walks from Hardin-Simmons pitching.
» Burford led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Hardin-Simmons was led offensively by senior Gannon Azios, who went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs and three RBI.
» Senior Brandon Girod led the Cowboys pitching staff, throwing six scoreless innings.

The Yellow Jackets will be back in Brownwood, Texas next weekend as UT Dallas comes to town for a three-game series.