MARSHALL, Texas --H. Rasnick-P and W. Burford each racked up four hits, but the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets fell to the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys 4-3 on Thursday.
D. Bower (1-7) started and took the loss on the mound for Howard Payne (9-31). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits, allowing two walks and striking out three. B. Read was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit, walking none and striking out one.
In addition to his four hits, Burford had a double and an RBI to lead the Yellow Jackets. Rasnick-P added two doubles and an RBI to his four-hit performance as well. J. Mackenzie also chipped in for Howard Payne, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Yellow Jackets were trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning when they first put runs on the board. Howard Payne got an RBI single from Mackenzie, scoring Rasnick-P from second base.
The Yellow Jackets deficit expanded to 3-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the seventh inning. Howard Payne scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Rasnick-P, which tightened the Cowboys lead to 3-2.
Hardin-Simmons expanded their lead to 4-2 before the Howard Payne offense got back to work, reducing that lead to 4-3 in the eighth. The Yellow Jackets were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» The Yellow Jackets got four-hit games from both Rasnick-P and W. Burford.
» Howard Payne's power output was led by Rasnick-P, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Howard Payne's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed one run across.
» Howard Payne left 16 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Cowboys at a 14-8 clip.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 34 Hardin-Simmons hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out four.
» The Yellow Jackets drew six walks from Hardin-Simmons pitching.
» Rasnick-P led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.
» Hardin-Simmons was led offensively by J. Trapani, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
» A. Carte led the Cowboys pitching staff, throwing 6.2 innings of two-run ball.
