BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team fell 16-8 to conference opponent East Texas Baptist University Friday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.

Up 4-2 at the end of 4th inning, the Yellow Jackets gave up six runs in the fifth and ninth innings to drop their weekend series opener 16-8 to East Texas Baptist. Howard Payne nearly matched ETBU in hits 13-11 but it was the Jackets stranding eight runners and walking seven ETBU batters that was the difference in the game.

Benjamin Lewis led the HPU charge going 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI. Michael Nowak followed with a 2-for-4 performance  with two RBIs. Cliff Lunceford recorded three RBIs on one hit, and David Groves and Bailey Smith each added an RBI.

Matthew Parks (5-4) got the loss in the start going 4.1 innings allowing seven runs on five hits, striking out four but walking five. Xavier Haines saw 1.2 innings in relief allowing two runs on three hits. Wesley Smith had his longest outing of the season throwing 2.1 innings and allowing six runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Nathan Weyrauch threw the final .2 allowing two hits and striking out one.

Howard Payne is now 18-1 overall and 10-9 American Southwest Conference action. ETBU is 24-11 overall and 15-4 in league play. The two teams will finish out their weekend series with a double header starting at 12:00 noon. It will be Military Appreciation Day for game one and the HPU seniors will be recognized between games one and two.