BELTON, Texas – The Howard Payne University baseball team could not hold an early lead and fell 11-4 to Denison University Tuesday evening at Mary Hardin-Baylor's Red Murff Field.

After gaining a 4-0 advantage after the top of the first, Howard Payne allowed Denison to score 11 unanswered runs on ten hits with five Howard Payne errors.

The Jackets opened the game with a four-run top of the first sparked by singles from Brandon Garrett, Cliff Lunceford and David Groves.

Cody Brown grounded out to first base which allowed Brandon Garrett score. Next, Cliff Lunceford singled to left center plating Will Roberts and Matthew Daniel. Finally, a David Groves single scored Lunceford but Groves was out at second trying to advance after the throw home.

Denison responded with nine unanswered runs over the first four innings to lead 9-4 going into the fifth. After adding single runs in the sixth and seventh frames, Denison went on the win 11-4.

Davis Groves was 2-for-4 from the plate for the Jackets with an RBI. Cliff Lunceford had two RBIs and Cody Brown added another. The Jackets were held to five total hits in the game while Denison recorded 10 as a team.

Tyler Colburn (1-2) got the loss in the start allowing five runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Zach Moseley allowed four runs on three hits in two innings of relief. Chad Anders threw 1.1 innings and allowed just one hit and Matthew Parks went the final three innings allowing two runs on one hit and striking out three.

Howard Payne is now 6-6 overall, Denison stands at 7-1 on the year. The Jackets will play next on March 18th versus Concordia University Chicago at 7:00 pm. The game will be played at Concordia University Texas in Austin, Texas.