BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University softball team split a non-conference double header with Huston-Tillotson University 1-2 and 13-12 (8) Tuesday afternoon at Lady Jacket Field.

In the 13-12 victory for the Lady Jackets in game two of the double header, Howard Payne would get a RBI single from Rachel Hitt to plate Brittany Ponder in the bottom of the eighth for the walk-off win.

With both teams tied at 10-10 after seven, Huston-Tillotson took a 12-10 advantage in the top of the eighth. Howard Payne responded with its third three-run inning of the game to post the win.

After the lack of offense from both teams in game one, both teams combined for 31 hits (17-HPU, 14-HTU) in the second. Celina Ortiz was 4-for-5 from the plate with 2 RBIs, Allison Eaton was 3-for-4, scoring three times. Rachel Hitt, Gaby Muniz, Sabrina Ochoa, and Brittany Ponder each had two hits in the game for the Lady Jackets.

Celese Tirres got the victory in relief throwing 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. In the start, Tayler Rushing allowed eight runs on eight hits working the first 4.1 innings in the circle.

In was a pitcher's duel in game one with HTU prevailing 2-1. Going the distance for Howard Payne, Celese Tirres recorded six strikeouts in the loss. HTU's Crystal Castillo had 12 strikeouts on the complete game win.

Howard Payne scored its only run of the game in the sixth when Kodi Glosson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Yasmine Ayala.

Howard Payne is now 3-2 overall and Huston-Tillotson stands at 1-1 on the year. The Lady Jackets will have a three-game conference series this weekend at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas.