BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne baseball team held off a late rally to take their season opener 15-13 over Southwestern University Tuesday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.

The Yellow Jackets drove in 15 runs on 10 hits while allowing 13 runs on 12 hits and committing two errors.,Howard Payne capitalized on 10 walks by Southwestern in the game.

HPU took an early lead scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. After a Brandon Garrett sac fly to score John Elmore, Dustin DeJohn tripled to right center to score Cody Brown and Matthew Daniel.

Southwestern would take the lead scoring four runs in the third and extended the lead to 5-3 in the fourth on a solo homerun.

The Jackets answered in the bottom of the inning tying the game when Elmore reached on a throwing error by the second baseman allowing Cody Cain and Micah Thompson to score.

Howard Payne then took the lead for good in the next inning scoring four runs. They added to the lead by adding one in the sixth and four more in the seventh to lead 14-5.

Southwestern rallied in the final innings scoring three in the eighth and five in the ninth. The Jackets would hold on for the 15-13 non-conference ,victory.

Dustin DeJohn and Micah Thompson were both 2-for-4 from the plate. John Elmore finished with four RBIs.

Shawn Brody got the win for the Jackets after the Shae Edmonds start. Brody gave up one run on two hits and struckout two. Dustin Kelver who came in relief had four strikeouts.

The Jackets will play next on Tues. Feb. 17th at McMurry University in Abilene starting at 7:00 pm.
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