Abilene, Texas - The Yellow Jacket Baseball Club traveled up the road to Abilene and Walt Driggers Field to face off against conference foes McMurry in a non-conference match up.

After starting the season 0-5, and adding some off the field adversity, the Jackets are heading home with a 6-5 win going into Saturday's double header.

Two solo shots in the bottom of the 4th gave the War Hawks an early lead against the struggling bats of the Jackets. Howard Payne answered big with a 4 run 5th inning though, thanks to a 3 run double by senior outfielder, Noah Payne. 

The War Hawks would retake the lead in the 6th after scoring 3 runs, but the Jackets jumped back in front in the 7th due to a balk that scored Payne, and a sac fly from Nolyn Box that plated Ty McCain. 

The game would stand at 6-5 because of the perfect relief appearances of both Xavier Haines and Brenden Clanton. 

Noah Payne finished the game 2-4 with a double and 3 runs batted in. Chandler Clark got the no decision on the mound tossing 5 innings and giving up 4 earned runs. Kory Owen notched his first win of the year throwing 1 inning, giving up 2 hits and one earned run. Ben Schardt, Xavier Haines and Brenden Clanton closed the door combining for 3 innings, 1 hit and 2 strike outs.

Howard Payne improves to 1-5 while McMurry drops to 2-2 on the season. The Jackets will get another chance to improve their records on Saturday, Feb. 16^th, at home again against the War Hawks of McMurry. First pitch for that match up will be at 12:00 pm.