HPU Tops 'Roos Twice

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team fell in both halves of its doubleheader against Howard Payne University on Thursday, dropping a 10-2 decision in game one before falling 8-0 in game two.

Howard Payne jumped on top early in game one, but Carrie Johnson ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the first to make it a 1-1 contest. Errors would open the door for a pair of runs by HPU in the second, and the Jackets added a run in the fourth to make it a 4-1 game. Howard Payne would push four more runs across in the fifth to extend the lead to 10-1, and things would finish up at 10-2 after a Lyndsey Busch RBI base hit in the sixth.

Allie Jeter took the loss for Austin College, giving up seven runs - four earned - on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work. Johnson was 3-for-3 to pace the 'Roos at the plate, while Makayla Wesley went 3-for-4 to lead Howard Payne.

The Jackets took a 2-0 lead after the first inning of game two, and defensive miscues helped the Jackets get four more runs would come across in the fourth to make it a 6-0 game. A two-run homer by Wesley in the fifth would make it an 8-0 final score. AD Smith got the loss for the 'Roos, giving up six runs - all unearned - on four hits in 3.1 innings of action. Five different players had a hit each for the 'Roos, with Chyrsi Hemby adding a stolen base.