HOUSTON, Texas – The Howard Payne University baseball team dropped its first game of the season to the University of St. Thomas by a score of 9-5 in five innings. The game was called early due to rain.
 
The Yellow Jackets recorded seven hits in five innings but stranded seven runners to drop game one of their season opening series at the University of St. Thomas 9-5. 

Howard Payne got on the scoreboard when Carson Wart drew a walk with the bases loaded in the second inning to plate Rylee McGee, 3-1 UST. Singles later in the inning by Trevor Fletcher and Derek Gifford brought home Nolan Box and Wert to make the score 3-3 at the end of the second.

After a five-run bottom of the second by UST, the Jackets added another on a Jonathan McKay double to score Nolan Box. The game would then end in the fifth inning 9-5 Lions due to rain.

Nolyn Box and Jonathan McKay had two hits each. Trevor Fletcher have two RBIs followed by Derek Gifford and Jonathan Mckay who had one each.
 
Bryant Chambers pitched 4.1 innings for the Jackets. Chambers gave up seven earned runs while striking out four.
 
The Jackets fall to 0-1 on the season and will be back on the field for a double header tomorrow against the Lions starting at 12:00 pm.