CLARKSVILLE, AR - The Howard Payne softball team split their conference double header with the University of the Ozarks 6-2 and 8-10 Friday afternoon on the road.

The Lady Jackets used a three run third and two run fourth to secure a 5-1 advantage and eventual 6-2 victory in game one of the conference double header with the University of the Ozarks.

In the 4th, Cherita George homered to center field to score three. Then in the fifth, Erin McLeod singled to center field to score Kodi Glosson scored. Later in the inning, Shandi Winstead doubled to left field to bring home McLeod.

Howard Payne added an insurance run in the 6th on an Amanda Cruddas homer to left center.

Celese Tirres got the complete game win for HPU striking out three and giving up just two runs on eight hits. Glosson went 3-for-3 from the plate and George and McLeod each had two hits.

In game two, it was a six run bottom of the fifth by Ozarks that did them in falling 8-10 in the end.

Down 5-10 going into the top of the sixth, the Lady Jackets made a push in the end scoring one in the sixth and two in the seventh.

In the sixth, Winstead singled to left field to score Allison Eaton. The in the seventh it was back to back RBI doubles by Adrienne Sanchez and Glosson that brought home runs and make the score the 8-10 final.

Tirres recorded the loss in the start for HPU. Tayler Rushing saw 1.2 innings in relief striking out two. Winstead George and Sanchez each went 2-for-3 from the plate. McLeod homered in her first at bat of the game.

The two teams will finish out their conference series tomorrow with a single game starting at 12:00 noon. Howard Payne is now,7-15 overall and 3-13 in ASC action. Ozarks is 8-12 overall and 6-10 in league play.