The Howard Payne University baseball team won both games of the doubleheader versus Schreiner University with HPU winning 6-4 and 14-6 on Sunday at Don Shepard Park.
 
Game One:
Brayden Ferrie (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Howard Payne. The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out two.
 
In addition to his three hits, Benson had an RBI to lead the Yellow Jackets. Grant Pfaff put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. John Garza also contributed for Howard Payne, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Trailing 1-0, the Yellow Jackets first put runs on the board in the first inning. Pfaff came across to score the lone run of the inning for Howard Payne and get them on the board.
 
The Mountaineers then scored one run to retake their advantage heading into the second inning, when the Yellow Jackets responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Howard Payne scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Benson, which brought the score level at 2-2.
 
That 2-2 tie turned into a 6-2 Howard Payne lead in the fourth. The Yellow Jackets’ bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run groundout off the bat of JP Zuniga-Rodriguez. Schreiner put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Howard Payne still held on for the 6-4 win.
 
GAME NOTES
» Benson had three base knocks in the game for Howard Payne.
» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Mountaineers at a 9-8 clip.
» Howard Payne went 5-for-12 (.417) with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 32 Schreiner hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and six fly balls while striking out four.
» Benson led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
» Schreiner was led offensively by I. Hernandez, who went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» J. Gallegos led the Mountaineers pitching staff, throwing two shutout innings.
 
Game Two:
Brandon Taylor (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Howard Payne. The right-hander pitched 1.2 shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing no walks and striking out one. Brendan Read also made an impact on the mound for the Yellow Jackets, throwing 2.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
 
In addition to his three hits, Gifford had three RBI to lead the Yellow Jackets, along with Smith’s three base knocks. Tanner Benson also contributed for Howard Payne, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and two RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Trailing 5-0, the Yellow Jackets first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Howard Payne’s offense started clicking and put up six runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Jackson Earle and a two-run single from Benson.
 
The Mountaineers then tied the ballgame at six before the Yellow Jackets came back to reclaim their advantage in the sixth inning. The Howard Payne offense exploded for eight runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Kayden Kelley, which brought the score to 14-6 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. The score remained 14-6 for the rest of the game, as Howard Payne coasted to the win.
 
GAME NOTES
» Howard Payne got three-hit games from both Gifford and Smith.
» Gifford and Earle drove in three runs each for the Yellow Jackets.
» Howard Payne’s highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed eight runs across.
» Five Yellow Jackets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Mountaineers at a 14-6 clip.
» Howard Payne went 9-for-13 (.692) with runners in scoring position.
» Howard Payne pitchers faced 34 Schreiner hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out four.
» The Yellow Jackets drew four walks from Schreiner pitching.
» Gifford led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI.
» Schreiner was led offensively by T. Juarez, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.

The Yellow Jackets will be back in action next Friday and Saturday as they host the University of Dallas in a three-game series at Don Shepard Park.