Story courtesy of HPUSports.com

GAME 1 | Mary Hardin-Baylor 9, Howard Payne 1

The Howard Payne Lady Jackets struggled in game one, falling to the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders by final score of 9-1.

Bree Cason (6-5) got the ball to start for Howard Payne (8-9) and took the loss.

Offensively, the Lady Jackets were paced by Makayla Wesley, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Kamryn Gomez put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lady Jackets got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Wesley put Howard Payne on the board with a two-out solo home run off E. Whyte. The Lady Jackets were unable to hold the lead, as Mary Hardin-Baylor scored nine times over the remaining five innings to grab the 9-1 win.

GAME NOTES

» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed one run across.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 33 Mary Hardin-Baylor hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and four fly balls while striking out three.
» Wesley led the Lady Jackets at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Mary Hardin-Baylor was led offensively by B. Frenzel, who went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
» Whyte led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing six innings of one-run ball.

GAME 2 | Howard Payne 4, Mary Hardin-Baylor 3

The Howard Payne Lady Jackets fought back from down 3-1 in the fifth inning to defeat the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders 4-3 Friday.

Junior Kayla Camacho (2-4) got the win for Howard Payne (8-9, 1-4). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on seven hits, allowing four walks and striking out two.

Offensively, the Lady Jackets were led by sophomore Ashley Blaylock, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double, a home run and an RBI. Camacho put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Sophomore Makayla Fuentes also chipped in for Howard Payne, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lady Jackets were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Blaylock put Howard Payne on the board with a one-out solo home run off C. Mason.

The Crusaders broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the sixth inning, when the Lady Jackets got back on the scoreboard. Howard Payne scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from Camacho, which brought the Lady Jackets lead to 4-3. The score remained 4-3 for the rest of the game, as Howard Payne held on for the win.

GAME NOTES

» The Lady Jackets power output was led by Blaylock, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Lady Jackets out-hit the Crusaders at a 9-7 clip.
» Howard Payne pitchers limited Mary Hardin-Baylor to just 2-for-16 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 34 Mary Hardin-Baylor hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 15 fly balls while striking out two.
» Blaylock led the Lady Jackets at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
» Mary Hardin-Baylor was led offensively by B. Frenzel, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
» E. Whyte led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.

The Lady Jackets will take on the Cru in game three of the series in Belton, Texas with first pitch set for 2:00 PM on Saturday.