Jackets salvage finale of series against UMHB, 10-9, in extra innings

March 2, 2024 at 7:13 pm Derrick Stuckly

The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets won one of three games from Mary Hardin-Baylor in American Southwest Conference baseball action with a walk-off hit from Jackson Earle in Game 3 Saturday resulting in a 10-9 victory.

GAME 1 | Mary Hardin-Baylor 6, Howard Payne 4

Despite picking up eight hits in the ballgame and out-hitting Mary Hardin-Baylor, Howard Payne was unable to push across more runs, as the Yellow Jackets were defeated by the Crusaders 6-2 Friday.

Gary Blair (0-2) got the ball to start for Howard Payne (5-5, 2-2) and took the loss. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on six hits, allowing one walk and striking out two. Brendan Read was a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets, coming out of the bullpen and throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout.

Derek Gifford led the way offensively for the Yellow Jackets, going 2-for-5 in the ballgame with a double. Jackson Earle put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Tanner Benson also contributed, going 2-for-5 for Howard Payne.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets were trailing 6-0 in the fifth inning when they first put runs on the board. Howard Payne plated two runs off of Mary Hardin-Baylor pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Earle. The Yellow Jackets were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.

GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed two runs across.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Crusaders at an 8-7 clip.
» Howard Payne pitchers limited Mary Hardin-Baylor to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 38 Mary Hardin-Baylor hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 17 fly balls while striking out three.
» Gifford led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double.
» Mary Hardin-Baylor was led offensively by R. Grosz, who went 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
» J. Haynes led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing two scoreless innings.

GAME 2 | Mary Hardin-Baylor 13, Howard Payne 1
Though they had plenty of opportunities, Howard Payne struggled to cash them in, leaving 10 Yellow Jackets on base in a 13-1 loss at the hands of the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders on Saturday.

Brayden Ferrie (1-2) got the ball to start for Howard Payne (6-6, 3-3) and took the loss.

In the batter’s box, the Yellow Jackets were paced by Derek Gifford, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Tanner Benson compiled a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Jackson Earle also contributed for Howard Payne, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets were trailing 13-0 in the seventh inning when they first put runs on the board. Gifford put Howard Payne on the board with a one-out solo home run off R. Champaner. The Yellow Jackets were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.

GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed one run across.
» Howard Payne left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Benson stole two bases in Saturday’s game.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 44 Mary Hardin-Baylor hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out one.
» Gifford led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Mary Hardin-Baylor was led offensively by K. Deberardi, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

GAME 3 | Howard Payne 10, Mary Hardin-Baylor 9
The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets responded from down 8-7 in the eighth inning to win in thrilling fashion, rallying to secure a 10-9 walk-off victory from Jackson Earle in the 12th inning over the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders Saturday.

Brendan Read (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Howard Payne (6-6, 3-3). The right-hander went one shutout inning, giving up one hit, no walks and striking out one. Bryson Adare also pitched well, going 3.2 innings, surrendering one run on one hit, walking one and striking out three.

Tanner Benson led the way offensively for the Yellow Jackets, going 5-for-6 in the ballgame with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Derek Gifford put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-7 with a triple and two RBI. Jackson Earle also helped out, going 3-for-7 for Howard Payne with a double and two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets scored in six different innings on the way to the win. Howard Payne broke a 9-9 tie and took the lead for good at 10-9 in the twelfth inning, walking it off The Yellow Jackets scored two of their three runs on RBI triples from Gifford and Benson.

on an RBI single off the bat of Earle.

GAME NOTES
» Benson compiled five hits on the day for Howard Payne.
» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Six Yellow Jackets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Yellow Jackets had a total of 20 hits.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Crusaders at a 20-15 clip.
» Howard Payne went 8-for-15 (.533) with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 60 Mary Hardin-Baylor hitters in the game, allowing 15 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Yellow Jackets drew four walks from Mary Hardin-Baylor pitching.
» Benson led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 5-for-6 with a triple and an RBI.
» Mary Hardin-Baylor was led offensively by R. Grosz, who went 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI.
» J. Haynes led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing one scoreless inning.

The Yellow Jackets were able to steal a game from Mary Hardin-Baylor handing the Crusaders their first loss of the season. HPU is now 6-6 (3-3 ASC) and will look ahead to three-day road trip to Tucson, Arizona where they will battle four teams in three days.