BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University softball team split a double header 4-2 and 1-5 with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon in conference action.

Howard Payne got a very strong pitching performance from Celese Tirres in game one carrying a perfect game going into the top of the sixth. Tirres recorde the complete game victory allowing two runs on three hits, striking out five.and walking none.

Kodi Glosson got the HPU offense started in the second with a single through the right side with the bases loaded scoring two. Next, Rachel Hitt singled to left field to plate a run from third making the score 3-0 Lady Jackets.

In the sixth, Yasmine Ayala doubled to left center to plate Allison Eaton who had reached on a single through the left side. 4-0 HPU. The Lady Jackets would allow two runs in the top of the seven but held on for the 4-2 victory.

Allison Eaton and Cody Glosson each had two hits for the Lady Jackets.

Howard Payne never seemed to get the offense going in game two falling 5-1. Alicia Tanguma got the loss in the start for HPU throwing the first 2.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits. Tayler Rushing threw in relief allowing six hits and no runs.

After a three-run homerun in the top of the first by UMHB, the Lady Jackets answered in the bottom of the second with their only run of the game on a Rachel Hitt RBI single to center field.

Hitt accounted for two of the four hits for Howard Payne in game two. Gaby Muniz and Allison Eaton also had hits in the game.

Howard Payne is now 5-5 overall and 2-3 in American Southwest Conference action. Mary Hardin-Baylor stands at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in league play. Both teams will finish out their conference series tomorrow with a single game starting at 12:00 noon.