ABILENE, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team had the go ahead run at the plate in the ninth but fell 6-3 to McMurry University Tuesday evening.

With runners at first and second with two outs, pinch hitter Matthew Daniel struck out swinging to end the Yellow Jackets late rally in the ninth.

Howard Payne took an early 2-0 lead in its first at bat scoring Brandon Garrett on wild pitch and on a Cody Brown single to center field to plate Brett Quackenbush. 

It was a six-run bottom of the second by McMurry that created a 6-2 deficit that the Jackets would have to battle back from.

The Jackets setup their ninth inning push by scoring two in the sixth to make the score 6-4. On a sac bunt attempt, Joshua Martinez reached on an error by third baseman allowing Cody Brown to score. Later, a Blake Laney ground out allowed Martinez to score from third.

Brett Quackenbush went 2-for-4 from the plate for Howard Payne. Shawn Brody (1-1) recorded the loss in the start allowing six runs on six hits in 1.2 innings of work. Zach Moseley, Boardman Adams, Chad Anders and Jonathan George each saw action in relief.

Howard Payne is now 9-8 overall and McMurry stands at 10-14 on the year. The Yellow Jackets will play next at home versus Sul Ross State this weekend.