AUSTIN, TX -- The Howard Payne University baseball team fell in two heartbreakers 4-3 and 3-2 in a doubleheader versus Concordia (TX) on Thursday in Austin, Texas.
GAME 1 | Concordia (TX) 4, Howard Payne 3
Concordia (TX)'s one-run sixth proved to be the difference in the ballgame, as the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets lost a tough one to the Tornados by the score of 4-3 in game one.
Brandon Taylor (2-2) took the loss on the mound for Howard Payne (13-23, 6-16).
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets were paced by Tanner Benson, who went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI. Kayden Kelley put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Yellow Jackets were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Howard Payne got an RBI single from Benson, scoring Grant Pfaff from third base.
The Tornados then scored one run to retake their advantage heading into the fifth inning, when the Yellow Jackets responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Howard Payne managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets were unable to hold the lead, as Concordia (TX) scored two times over the remaining two innings to grab the 4-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 29 Concordia (TX) hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out two.
» Benson led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
» Concordia (TX) was led offensively by C. Christian, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
GAME 2 | Concordia (TX) 3, Howard Payne 2
The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets took a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning, but could not hang on and fell 3-2 to the Concordia (TX) Tornados in game two.
Bryant Chambers (1-1) got the ball to start for Howard Payne (13-24, 6-17) and took the loss. The right-hander went eight innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on six hits, allowing two walks and striking out three.
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets were led by Landon Prestage, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a triple. William Burford put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Yellow Jackets got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Prestage came across to score the lone run of the inning for Howard Payne and get them on the board.
The Tornados failed to push any runs across before the Yellow Jackets built on their lead in the fifth inning. Burford came across to score the lone run of the inning for Howard Payne, which brought the score to 2-0 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets were unable to hold the lead, as Concordia (TX) scored three times over the remaining four innings to grab the 3-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed one run across.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Tornados at a 7-6 clip.
» Howard Payne pitchers limited Concordia (TX) to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 34 Concordia (TX) hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out three.
» Prestage led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a triple.
» Concordia (TX) was led offensively by J. Swift, who went 2-for-4.
» D. Palmer led the Tornados pitching staff, throwing 7.1 innings of two-run ball.
The Yellow Jackets will look to close their season out on a high note Saturday as they close out the three-game series on the road versus Concordia (TX) with first pitch set for 2:00 PM
