BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team lost a pitcher's duel in game one 2-1 and fell 11-8 in game two Friday afternoon in a conference double header at Don Shepard Park.

Game One
In a no decision, HPU starting pitcher Dylan Vilaros was stellar holding Ozarks hitless for 4.2 innings. In Vilaros' five total innings, he allowed just one hit and struck out five. 

The Yellow Jackets got on the scoreboard first when Blake Null singled to center field to plate Noah Payne in the first inning. The Jackets would hold Ozarks scoreless till the Eagles scored singles runs in the seventh and eighth for the 2-1 final.

Brenden Clanton threw 2.0 innings in relief for HPU allowing one run on two hits. Shawn Brody recorded the loss throwing the final 2.0 innings allowing one run on two hts and striking out three.

Game Two
Down 8-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Jackets would post a four-run fifth to get back into the game. 

Benjamin Lewis tripled to right center to score Noah Payne and Cliff Lunceford. Next, a Blake Null sacrifice fly brought home Lewis and finally a Jacob Rodriguez triple to right center scored David Groves, 8-6 Ozarks.

Ozarks tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh but the Jackets were only able to respond with two runs in the bottom of the inning for the 11-8 final.

Benjamin Lewis finished 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. Jacob Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with three RB for the Jackets.

Preston Newman recorded the loss in the start for HPU allowing seven runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings of work. Wesley Smith threw the final three frames allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three.

Howard Payne now stands at 10-6 overall and 1-4 in American Southwest Conference play. Ozarks is now 9-9 overall and 7-4 in league action. The two teams will finish up the weekend series on Saturday with a single game starting at 1:00 pm.