BROWNWOOD, Texas- The Howard Payne University baseball team concluded the three-game series with the University of Dallas in a double-header on Saturday afternoon at Don Shepard Park. Howard Payne won both seven-inning games by scores of 12-6 and 4-3.

The Yellow Jackets outhit the Crusaders 22-10 in the double-header, including seven doubles and one triple. 

Game One

The Yellow Jackets allowed two runs in the top of the first but answered by scoring two runs of their own.  Howard Payne scored their first run of the day on a Joey Villarreal triple. Nolyn Box singled to center field to score Villarreal and tie the game.

The Jackets fell behind 3-2, heading into the bottom of the fifth when they went for 10 runs. Joey Villarreal highlighted the inning with two doubles and three RBI.

UDallas scored three runs in the sixth inning but were too far behind to catch the HPU. The Yellow Jackets won the second game of the series 12-6 in seven innings.

Joey Villarreal was 3-for-4 at the plate with 4 RBI. Nolyn Box was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI.

Bryant Chambers (1-3) started on the mound and recorded the winning pitching five innings for the Yellow Jackets. Chambers allowed three runs on three hits and struck out three. Landin Blass and D'Andrey Silva each saw one inning in relief.

Game Two

The Yellow Jackets got off to a hot start, scoring three runs in the first inning. The game's first runs were scored on a Derek Gifford double to left field that plated Joey Villarreal and Will Iannacone.

The Crusaders scored two runs in the second and one run in the fourth to tie the ball game. The Jackets scored one run in the fifth inning on a Tanner Benson single to give them a 4-3 lead. Udallas was unable to score, giving HPU the victory.

Tanner Benson went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Will Iannacone went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

HPU's Ricky Mays (1-1) recorded the win in relief, throwing two innings giving up one hit. Kyle Purdes had the no-decision going four innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Xaiver Haines recorded the save, throwing one inning.

Howard Payne improves to 4-7 overall, and UDallas falls to 1-6 on the year. The Yellow Jackets will play Belhaven in a three-game series on March 19-20 in Brownwood, Texas.