Saturday's home opener did not unfold under ordinary skies.
With weather rolling through Brownwood and lightning pushing the schedule off its axis, Howard Payne's long-awaited return home detoured down the road to Brownwood High School. Different field, same mission. By the end of the afternoon, the Yellow Jackets turned the temporary setting into a celebration, sweeping the doubleheader and completing a three-game series sweep of Arlington Baptist after Thursday's road win.
Game One – Howard Payne 15, Arlington Baptist 7
The opener simmered early before erupting into something unforgettable.
Arlington Baptist built a 7–1 lead through the middle innings, capitalizing on timely hits and a few defensive miscues. But the sixth inning flipped the entire atmosphere. What began as a rally turned into a full-scale offensive avalanche.
Jace MacKenzie ignited the surge with a three-run home run that cut into the deficit and breathed life into the dugout. Moments later, Skyler Fields launched a three-run shot of his own, pulling Howard Payne even closer as momentum shifted completely.
Then came the knockout sequence.
Hunter Pope stepped in as a pinch hitter and delivered the loudest swing of the day, crushing a grand slam that vaulted the Yellow Jackets in front for good. By the time the inning closed, Howard Payne had plated 14 runs in the frame, turning a six-run deficit into a runaway lead.
Offensively, several Yellow Jackets posted standout performances:
Nader Gulamhusein reached base repeatedly, scoring three runs and collecting two hits.
Huston Cornish finished with three hits and two runs scored.
Jace MacKenzie recorded two hits with three RBIs including his momentum-shifting homer.
Skyler Fields drove in three runs on his home run.
Hunter Pope tallied four RBIs with the grand slam.
Ty Phillips added two RBIs, while John Garza chipped in a multi-hit effort with an RBI.
On the mound, Kaleb Kuligowski earned the win in relief, steadying the game long enough for the offense to take over, while Trace Garcia closed the door in the final inning.
Game Two – Howard Payne 11, Arlington Baptist 0
If Game One was thunder, Game Two was lightning.
Howard Payne's offense wasted little time creating separation in Game Two, putting together an 11-run, 11-hit performance to secure the shutout win.
Huston Cornish powered the middle of the order with a huge day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and three RBIs while scoring twice. Hunter Pope matched the multi-hit effort, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored.
Colby Chapman delivered one of the biggest swings of the game in the third inning, launching a grand slam that drove in four runs and blew the game open. Joshua Lile also left the yard, crushing a two-run homer to get the scoring started in the second.
Jace MacKenzie was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a run scored while also swiping a base and being hit by a pitch to reach three times. John Garza added extra-base impact with an RBI double, finishing 1-for-4 with a run driven in.
On the mound, Brant Wilson was in full command, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five to earn the win. Wilson Russell closed the door in the final frame, striking out two to preserve the combined one-hit shutout.
When asked about the Home Opener and the unusual day, Head Coach Stephen Lynn exclaimed,
"Proud of the way our guys handled everything that came at them. Weather delays, moving fields, sitting around waiting, none of that is easy. But they stayed locked in. Game One showed our fight. To put up 14 runs in an inning says a lot about this lineup's belief in each other. Then to turn around and throw a shutout in Game Two, that's complete baseball. Anytime you can open your home slate, wherever it's played, with a sweep and finish off a three-game series the right way, you'll take that every time."
The Jackets will take to the road next on February 17th against Dallas Christian College in Farmers Branch, TXÂ
