ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl softball team brought the big bats to take down Howard Payne 12-0 and 14-6, taking sole possession of first place in the American Southwest Conference Friday.

The Cowgirls took the first two of a four game series against the Yellow Jackets, the first three being ASC games.

With the sweep of Howard Payne Friday, the Cowgirls take hold of first place in the ASC with McMurry falling to ETBU on the day.

Haven Williams took to the circle to start game one with three innings pitched and a strikeout in the combined shutout. Summer Simmons finished the five-inning win for the Cowgirls with just one hit allowed in two innings.

The Cowgirls had 13 hits in the 12-0 win in game one. Kristen McMillan, Ella Salinas, Sarah Diessner, and Lindsey Ratcliffe all had two hits in game one.

Salinas and Diessner added homeruns to their totals while Ratcliffe went for two doubles. Salinas led with four RBIs. Madison Mayhew, Diessner, and McMillan had two RBIs each for the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls hopped out to a 5-0 lead in game two before Howard Payne got on track with six runs to take the lead 6-5. The Cowgirls quickly retook the lead and finished the game in the sixth 14-6 against the Yellow Jackets.

Kaylen Washington started and had the win in the circle. Haven Williams also threw for the Cowgirls and Kylie Ruiz finished the day for Hardin-Simmons in game two.

The Cowgirl had a ridiculous 20 hits in just the second game. Five Cowgirls had three-hit performances in the game, Haley Henson, McMillan, Jazlynn Cantu, Ratcliffe, and Washington.

Cantu and Alex Guillory led the team with three RBIs in game two. Guillory had a double and Cantu hit her first homerun as a Cowgirl in her freshman season.

The Cowgirls go to 20-3 on the year and 10-1 in the American Southwest Conference and will play two more against Howard Payne on Saturday starting at 12 noon. 

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