TYLER, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team held off a late surge by the University of Texas at Tyler to claim a 5-4 conference victory Friday evening.

The Yellow Jackets used a four-run six to gain a 5-1 advantage over the Patriots. UT-Tyler made the game close after scoring one in the seventh and two in the bottom of the ninth. 

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, UT-Tyler scored one run on an error by the shortstop to pull within one, 5-4. But shortstop Brandon Garrett threw out the second LeTourneau runner headed home for the third out ending the game.

Howard Payne scored its first run in the fifth on a solo homer left field by Walker Dailey to tie the game at 1-1. It was Dailey's first homerun of the season.

In the sixth, a Cliff Lunceford single to right field scored Seth Dohrman to give the Jacks the 2-1 lead. In the same inning, Cody Cain singled to the shortstop to plate Brett Quackenbush. Then a Walker Dailey double down the left line scored Cain and Lunceford giving HPU the 5-1 advantage.

Noah Payne and Walker Dailey each finished with two hits for the Jackets. Dailey had three RBIs. 

Kyle Ramon improve to 4-2 overall in the victory on the mound for Howard Payne. Ramon allowed two runs on six hits, striking out four in eight innings of work. Zach Moseley picked up his fourth save of the season throwing the final frame for HPU.

Howard Payne is now 18-13 overall and 8-8 in American Southwest Conference action. UT-Tyler stands at 20-13 overall and 10-9 in league play. The two teams will finish out their series on Saturday with a double header starting at 12:00 noon.