MARSHALL. Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team fell 6-5 and 10-2 to East Texas Baptist Saturday afternoon in conference play.

Game One
The Yellow Jackets tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth but a bases loaded single by ETBU in the bottom of the inning put them back on top 6-5.

HPU would have a runner on third with one out in the top of the seventh but the game ended after the Jackets struck out and grounded out.

David Groves finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Benjamin Lewis was 2-for-4 with an RBU and Hunter Bazan also drove in two runs.

Seth Owen went 3.0 innings in the no decision start striking out three but walking seven. Owen allowed four runs on two hits. Jonathan George (1-1) threw the final 3.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three in the loss.

Game Two
The Yellow Jackets struggled at the plate being out hit 9-3 and in the field committing three errors.

Howard Payne's only two runs came on back-to-back solo homeruns by Jay Holland and Michael Nowak in the fifth inning.

Preston Newman (1-3) recorded the loss in the start allowing four runs on two hits in two innings of work. Kyle Purdes had two innings of relief allowing four runs on three hits.

Shawn Brody threw two innings and allowed one run on three hits and Evan Rodriguez threw the final two frames all allowing one run on one hit.

Howard Payne is now 14-8 overall and 3-6 in American Southwest Conference action. ETBU stands at 13-11 overall and 5-7 in league play. The Jackets will play next on Thursday and Friday at home versus the University of Texas at Dallas in a three game series.