RICHARDSON, Texas - After dropping game one 13-1, the Howard Payne University softball team rebounded taking game two 2-1 Friday afternoon versus the University of Texas at Dallas.

Leading 2-0 after the first inning, UT-Dallas recorded six runs in the second and five in the third to open up a huge 13-0 lead. The Lady Jackets would score their only run of the contest on a solo homerun by Celina Ortiz to lead off the 4th.

Howard Payne was held to just two hits while UTD recorded 15 in the game. Tayler Rushing logged the only other hit for HPU and Celese Tirres got the loss in the start going 2.1 innings. Rushing threw the final 1.2 innings.

After a lop-sided loss in the opener, Howard Payne rallied for a 2-1 victory in eight innings in game two. This time Celese Tirres kept the UTD bats in check allowing just one run on seven hits in the complete game victory.

UTD gained an early 1-0 lead in the 3rd frame on back-to-back doubles. HPU knotted the game in the top of the 7th as they pushed a run across with a two-out, bases-loaded infield single by Rachel Hitt. The Lady Jackets then scored the game-winning run in the 8th with a two-out single by Haley Slater through the left side of the infield.

Rachel Hitt and Sabrina Ochoa each had two hits for Howard Payne in game two.

Howard Payne is now 12-16 overall 9-14 in American Southwest Conference play. UT-Dallas stands at 14-16 overall 10-10 ASC action. Both teams will close the three-game series with a 12 pm single game on Saturday.