ABILENE, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team defeated McMurry University 8-6 in a conference series opener Friday evening at Walt Driggers Field.

Howard Payne was led by senior first baseman Brett Quackenbush with 4 RBIs on 2-for-4 hitting at the plate. The Yellow Jackets used a three-run seventh and a two-run eighth to secure the 8-6 victory.

Howard Payne got its scoring started in the second when Bailey Smith was hit by pitch with the bases loaded bringing home David Groves. Then in the fifth, the Jackets took a 3-1 lead on a Brett Quackenbush double to right center scoring Noah Payne and Joshua Gerig.

The Jackets extended their lead in the seventh when Benjamin Lewis reached on an error by pitcher allowing Noah Payne to score, 4-2 HPU. Then Cliff Lunceford reached on an error by the third baseman bring home Justin Anderson and Quackenbush. Anderson pitch ran for Blake Null who had reached on a walk. 6-2 HPU.

Then in the eighth, Brett Quackenbush extended the Jacket lead again on a two-run homer to right field. 8-4 HPU. It was Quackenbush's second homerun of the season.

McMurry plated three runs over the next two innings but Jacket closer Zach Moseley shut the door on the War Hawks picking up his ninth save of the season. 

Matthew Parks got the win in the start for the Jackets going seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out five. Xavier Haines saw .2 innings of work striking out one. Moseley went the remaining distance allowing one run on two hits and striking out one for the save.

Howard Payne is now 16-12 overall and 9-7 in American Southwest Conference action. McMurry stands at 11-21 overall and 5-11 league play. The two teams will finish their series on Saturday with a double header starting at 1:00 pm.