Box Score On a night where the stands had just as many wagging tails as cheering fans, Howard Payne dropped a 5-2 decision to McMurry University at Don Shepard Park during a spirited Bark in the Park event.
The Yellow Jackets struck early, matching McMurry in the first inning. Ty Phillips got things rolling with a base hit and later crossed the plate on a run-scoring single from Joshua Lile, tying the game at 1-1. From there, the offense had to scratch and claw against a deep McMurry pitching staff.
Howard Payne found another spark in the sixth inning, thanks to a gritty sequence that felt fitting for a night full of energy. Eli McNair came off the bench and delivered a single, then worked his way around the bases before Nader Gulamhusein drove him in with an RBI knock to cut the deficit to one at 3-2.
Gulamhusein led the way offensively, finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk, while Joshua Lile added an RBI of his own on a 1-for-5 night. Ty Phillips also chipped in with a hit and scored a run, continuing to be a steady presence at the top of the lineup. Jace Mackenzie and Eli McNair each contributed hits as well, helping Howard Payne total five on the night.
Patience at the plate was a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets, who drew nine walks in the contest. Landon Prestage showed strong discipline with three walks, while John Garza added a pair.
On the mound, Tyler George provided a standout performance in relief, striking out three batters in a clean inning of work. Kallin Koehl followed with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and keeping the Yellow Jackets within striking distance. Trace Garcia also closed things out with a scoreless ninth inning.
While McMurry used timely hitting to build its lead, Howard Payne continued to compete late, putting runners on in the ninth inning before the rally fell just short.
"I thought we had some really competitive at-bats and did a good job creating opportunities, especially drawing walks and putting pressure on them. We just didn't come up with that one big hit when we needed it. I liked what we saw from some of our guys on the mound too. It was a great atmosphere tonight with Bark in the Park, and we'll take that energy with us and be ready to bounce back," said Coach Lynn.Â
Even in the loss, the night carried a unique energy. Between innings, barks echoed across the ballpark, dogs lounged along the berm, and every crack of the bat seemed to get an extra reaction from the four-legged crowd. It was a night that reminded everyone baseball is better with a little fur in the stands.
Howard Payne will look to regroup and carry the positives forward into its next matchup on the road against UMHB on Thursday, April 9th to open Conference play.Â
