BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team held a three-run lead going into the final two innings and fell 8-7 to East Texas Baptist University in their conference series finale Monday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.

With the Yellow Jackets leading 7-4 going into the eighth inning, East Texas Baptist posted a four-run top of the eighth to take an 8-7 advantage. 

The Yellow Jackets opened the game with a two-run bottom of the first, Joey Viilarreal scoring on a throwing error and a Derek Gifford sac fly to score Noah Coronado.

HPU added two more runs in the third on a Rylee McGee triple to right field to score Gifford and William Burford.

The Jackets had their best inning of the game in the sixth scoring three-runs on a 2 RBI single by Wylan Koltz and a Coronado groundout to score Carson Wert.

Villarreal and McGee each were 2-for-5 at the plate for the Yellow Jackets.

Ricky Mays went 4.2 innings in the start for HPU allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three. Bryant Chambers threw 1.1 innings allowing two runs on two hits. Harlee Biggs recorded the loss in relief allowing four runs on three hits in 2.0 innings of work. Brendan Read threw the final frame for the Jackets allowing one hit.

Howard Payne is now 2-8 overall and 1-8 in American Southwest Conference action. ETBU stands at 11-2 overall and 9--0 in league play. The Yellow Jackets will play next on Tuesday at 7:00 pm versus Austin College in a non-conference matchup. The game will be held at the Cleburne Railroaders Ballpark in Cleburne, Texas.