BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team split a doubleheader with Hardin-Simmons University falling 2-3 in game one and winning 5-4 in game two Saturday afternoon at Don Shepard Park. 

HPU's Derek Gifford had a walk-off RBI single down the left line to score David Paleo to give the Yellow Jackets a 5-4 victory in game two of the Saturday double header.

Game One
Howard Payne tied the game 2-2 with a two-run bottom of the sixth. A Derek Gifford single through the right side scored Tanner Benson and Jonathan McKay to tie the game.

Two catching errors in the top of the ninth led to a Hardin-Simmons run and eventual 2-3 loss.

Gifford was the only Jackets with multiple hits going 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI.

HPU's Kyle Purdes was solid in the start but received the loss throwing all seven innings, striking out six and walking none.

Game Two
The Jackets gained a 2-0 advantage after scoring single runs in the second and fourth innings. Taylor Griner has a sacrifice fly to score Jared Pollock in the second and a David Paleo RBI single in the fourth scored Griner.

With Hardin-Simmons holding a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth, Howard Payne would score two runs on a McKay double down the left line tying the game at 4-4. Later that inning, it would be Gifford with his single to score Paleo that gave the Jackets the 5-4 victory.

Jared Pollock and David Paleo each finished 2-for-4 at the plate in the game. Pollock recorded a triple in his first at bat.

Bryant Chambers was great in the no decision start for HPU going 7.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits and striking out five. Johnny Cravey and Landin Blass saw time in relief before Xavier Haines recorded the win throwing the final two-thirds inning striking out two.

The two teams will finish out their weekend conference series with a single game on Sunday at 2:00 pm.