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Box Score 2 BROWNWOOD, Texas – Hardin-Simmons and Howard Payne each had last-inning wins as the teams split an American Southwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday in Brownwood, with HSU winning the first game 3-2 and HPU winning the nightcap 5-4.
In the first game, Nate Blachowicz had an RBI single and Craig Symmes later scored on a wild pitch to give Hsu a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
HPU scored two runs on a Derek Gifford single in the sixth.
The Cowboys scored an odd run in the seventh when Gabe Moore struck out with two outs on a ball in the dirt but reached when the catcher's throw went into right field. Symmes did the same thing on the next at-bat and then Moore came home to score on a passed ball.
The pitchers were great for both teams, allowing four hits each. Wyatt Tumlinson (2-1) worked into the seventh inning allowing just two runs and struck out five to earn the win. Grant Mitzelfelt closed the game with a scoreless seventh for his second save.
In the second game, Howard Payne scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to rally for the 5-4 win. Gifford had the walkoff single with two outs in the ninth. Kyle Purdes took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs in the complete-game win.
HPU took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and fourth innings. HSU came back with a Hunter Garrison RBI single in the fourth and another run scored on an error. Symmes had an RBI double in the sixth to give HSU a 3-2 lead and Garrett Frazier gave the Cowboys a run in the ninth on a fielder's choice.
Kadin Croak started and went two and two-third innings for the Cowboys. John Clift worked five and one-third innings and left after a leadoff single in the ninth. Mitzelfelt came in to try for his second save of the day but the Jackets had four hits in the inning to give him the loss.
Gabe Moore had two of the six HSU hits.
HSU is 8-19 on the year and 4-13 in league play. Howard Payne is 6-19 overall and 3-17 in ASC action. The teams will battle for the series win on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Don Shepard Park in Brownwood.
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