BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team split a conference double header 9-4 and 8-9 with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.

Howard Payne used multi-run second, third and fourth innings to defeat Mary Hardin-Baylor 9-4 in game one of the double header Saturday afternoon. Matthew Parks got the win in the start for the Jackets going four innings in the seven inning game. Parks allowed two runs on six hits and struckout three. Michael Cannon saw 2.2 innings in relief allowing two runs on three hits. Zach Moseley recorded the save facing one batter in the final frame.

Will Roberts was 4-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs. Brandon Garrett was 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI. Blake Laney, Matthew Daniel and Joshua Martinez each had two hits for the Jackets.

In game two, Mary Hardin-Baylor broke a 2-2 tie with a seven run top of the third to lead 9-2. Howard Payne did not lay down responding with four runs in the bottom of the inning to keep within striking distance. 9-6 UMHB

The Jacket defense and pitching staff would keep the Cru offense scoreless the rest of the game, while the Jacket offense inched closer to tying the game. A Will Roberts sacrifice fly in the fourth plated Garrett making the game 9-7. Then in the sixth, a Seth Dohrman single through the left side would score Garrett to make the score 9-8.

Howard Payne would have opportunities to tie the game stranding runners in the seventh and ninth but would go on to lose 9-8.

Garrett was huge again from the plate for the Jackets going 4-for-5, he finished 7-for-9 for the day. David Groves and Walker Dailey each had two hits.

Tyler Colburn recorded the loss for the Jackets in the start, allowing eight runs on eight hits and striking out three. Wesley Smith faced three batters, Shawn Brody threw 2.1 innings striking out two, Adrian Acosta went the final 3.2 innings allowing one hit and striking out four.

Howard Payne is now 6-5 overall and 2-4 in American Southwest Conference action. Mary Hardin-Baylor stands at 6-8 overall and 3-3 in league play. The Jackets will play next weekend at home versus Belhaven University. It will be a Friday single game starting at 2:00 pm and a Saturday double header starting at 12:00 noon.