RICHARDSON, TEXAS – The Howard Payne University baseball team claimed an 11-7 conference win over the University of Texas at Dallas Comets this evening in game one of the weekend series.
 
Despite being outhit 15-14 and committing two fielding errors, Howard Payne used a four-run third and three-run seventh to claim the 11-7 victory.

The Comets took an early lead scoring four runs in the first inning.
 
After the Comets scored four in the first, HPU tallied one run in the second, and took the lead in the third (5-4) with hits from Will Burford, RJ Roberts, Carson Wert, Joey Villarreal, and two walks from Rylee McGee and Kelby Coburn.
 
The Jackets score one more run in the fifth, and three in the seventh to increase the lead 11-7. The Comets could not fight back resulting in the HPU conference win.
 
Will Burford and Carson Wert each went 3-for-5 at the plate. Rylee McGee and Joey Villarreal were 2-for-4.
 
Kyle Purdes started on the mound for the Jackets recording the win allowing seven runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Brendan Read was the reliever throwing 3.1 innings allowing no runs on three hits with one strikeout.
 
The Yellow Jackets will take on UT Dallas in a double-header to finish the series in Richardson, Texas on Friday starting at 1:00 p.m.