ALPINE, Texas - Softball picked up 8-0 and 9-1 wins in a home sweep of Howard Payne.

"It was a great day from our pitchers and defense," said head coach Troy Canaba. "A great team effort today for sure!"

Game 1: Sul Ross 8, Howard Payne 0 (6 innings)

Sully got things going early with a pair in the bottom of the first. Annika Canaba brought in Hardin on a sacrifice fly to left for the first run of the game. After Nadia Valverde singled, Payslee Sims doubled her home for the 2-0 lead.

It stayed 2-0 until Danielle Gomez doubled in Jenna Spencer for a 3-0 advantage after four.

Hardin plated Raquelle Bernal with a sacrifice fly in the fifth before Samantha Chavez later came in and scored on a sacrifice fly by Valverde for a 5-0 lead after five.

Sims started the sixth with a solo shot to center to make it 6-0. Veronica Rodriguez soon made it 7-0 with a sacrifice fly that scored Lisbeth Dominguez. The final run came on a single by Camryn Hardin that scored Heather Rios to finish the game there at 8-0.

Jodie Vaughn finished with a one-hitter after going six innings with four strikeouts.

Hardin, Valverde, Sims and Gomez each finished with two hits each. Hardin and Sims each had two RBI.


Game 2: Sul Ross 9, Howard Payne 1 (5 innings)

HPU got out to a 1-0 lead in the first but saw that diminish quickly.

Valverde gave the Lobos the lead with an two-RBI single to center, scoring Hardin and Chavez for the 2-1 advantage. Sims then singled around Canaba for a 3-1 lead that went to the second.

The Lobos tacked on four more in the second. Veronica Rodriguez came around on an error before Chavez then singled home Hardin. Chavez later scored on an error for a 6-1 lead. Sims then doubled in Spencer for a 7-1 advantage after two.

Sully added a pair in the fourth after Chavez scored on a throwing error and Valverde knocked in Canaba on a groundout to second for a 9-1 lead.

Danielle Gomez got the start, giving up five hits and one earned run in five innings of work. She went scoreless in her final four innings on the mound for a 9-1 win after five.

Hardin led the way with three hits and scored twice.

Canaba and Sims each had two hits.

Valverde knocked in three while Chavez scored three runs.

The Lobos improve to 16-14 on the season and 9-11 in ASC play. Howard Payne falls to 4-24 and 1-19.

Sully and the Yellow Jackets finish the series Saturday at Lobo Field with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.