BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team split a conference double header with Hardin-Simmons University 6-2 and 0-6 Saturday afternoon to claim a spot in the post-season tournament.

With the 6-2 victory in game one of the double header, the Yellow Jackets claimed a spot in the American Southwest Conference championship tournament for the third consecutive year. 

In the victory, the Jackets jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage scoring three runs in their first at bat. A Seth Dohrman single scored Noah Payne. Later, a Cody Brown single plated Dohrman and a throwing error by the right fielder allowed Matthew Daniel to score on the same play. 3-0 Jackets.

Hardin-Simmons scored single runs in the second and third, but that was all the Jackets would allow adding single runs of their own in the second, third and sixth to claim the 6-2 victory.

Adrian Acosta (4-1) recorded the victory in the start allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Jonathan George got his first save of the season throwing the final two frames of the seven inning game. George allowed just three hits. Cody Brown led the Jackets going 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs.

In game two, it was Hardin-Simmons that jumped out the the early lead scoring three in its first at bat, Howard Payne could never seem to get its offense started in the second game and was held to just two hits. 

Tyler Colburn got the loss in the start allowing three runs on five hits, striking out six in five innings. Boardman Adams, Shawn Brody, Wesley Smith and Joshua O'Conner all saw time in relief for the Jackets. Noah Payne and Cliff Lunceford recorded the two hits for Howard Payne.

With the remaining regular season ASC games to be finished on Sunday, the official ASC tournament bracket will not be release till later on Sunday.

Howard Payne finishes the regular season at 19-19 overall and 9-12 in American Southwest Conference action. Hardin-Simmons stands at 25-15 overall and 17-7 in league play.