BROWNWOOD, Texas- The Howard Payne University baseball team split a double header with conference opponent Louisiana College winning the first game 10-1 and dropping the second game 6-2 Saturday afternoon.
 
Game One
The Yellow Jackets got things going in the bottom of the third inning with a lead-off walk by Jay Holland who would eventually come around to be the first run of a 10 run third inning. Cliff Lunceford singled to right, followed by a Blake Null walk. Benjamin Lewis singled to left center scoring Jay Holland and Cliff Lunceford. Noah Payne singled to right scoring Blake Null.
 
The Jackets would bat around as Jay Holland hit an infield single scoring David Groves. Cliff Lunceford picked up his second hit of the inning with a two RBI double to right field scoring J.W. Ledbetter and Noah Payne. Benjamin Lewis also picked up two hits in the inning with a two RBI double scoring Josh Gerig and Cliff Lunceford giving the Jackets the 10-0 lead in the third.
 
Benjamin Lewis recorded two hits and four RBIs. Cliff Lunceford also recorded two hits and two RBIs. Jay Holland, Joshua Gerig, and Noah Payne each recorded a hit. 
 
Brenden Clanton (2-0) picked up his second win of the season after throwing 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out two and walking three. Vernon Hart threw the final 2.0 innings allowing no runs on four hits while striking out two and walking three. The win moves Clanton to 2-0 on the season.
 
Game Two
Louisiana College would get the scoring started early in game two jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Howard Payne would answer in the bottom of the first on a Blake Null single that scored Jay Holland. The Wildcats would pick up three runs in the top of the second and one more in the fourth taking a 6-1 lead.
 
HPU would score one run in the bottom of the ninth on a Noah Coronado sac fly that brought home Benjamin Lewis.
 
Jacob Rodriguez recorded two hits in the loss. Jay Holland, Cliff Lunceford, Joshua Gerig, Blake Null, Benjamin Lewis, David Groves, Michael Nowak, and Hunter Bazan each recorded a hit in the game.
 
Seth Owen (6-2) picked up the loss for the Yellow Jackets after throwing 4.0 innings allowing 6 runs on 5 hits while striking out two and walking four. Wesley Smith threw 5.0 innings of relief while striking out nine of the 18 batters he faced and allowing three hits and no walks. The loss moves Seth Owen to 6-2 on the year.
 
Howard Payne is now 21-18 overall and 9-14 in ASC play. Louisiana College moves to 19-14 on the season with an 8-14 conference record. The two teams will finish out the weekend series with a single game on Sunday at 1:00 pm. The 2018 HPU seniors will be recognized before the game.