BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team uses an eight-run first inning to defeat the University of the Ozarks 14-4 in a seven-inning run-rule Saturday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.

After adding single runs in the second and fifth innings, the Yellow Jackets finished the Eagles off with a four-run sixth inning to claim the 14-4 conference victory. 

With two players being hit by a pitch and a walk, the Jackets scored eight runs on five hits in the bottom of the first. 

In the sixth, it was Noah Payne's inside the park homer that rattled Ozarks later walking in the next three Yellow Jacket runs with the bases loaded.

Jonathan George went 4.0 innings in the non-decision start for Howard Payne allowing four runs on six hits. After an hour and a half lightning delay, Howard Payne went with Kyle Purdes the rest of the way out. Picking up his first win of the season, Purdes threw three hitless innings, walking two and striking out one.

Cliff Lunceford was 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. Jacob Rodriguez was also 2-for-3 which included a double. Noah Payne was 2-for-5 on the day with the inside the park homer. David Groves and Jay Holland both had two RBI and John Killough finished with four RBI and a triple.

Howard Payne is now 11-6 overall and 2-4 in American Southwest Conference play. Ozarks stands at 10-9 overall and 5-4 in league action. The Jackets will play at home on Tuesday versus Central Christian College in a non-conference double-header starting at 1:00 pm.