Howard Payne wrapped up its three-game homestand against Southwestern on Saturday with a doubleheader split, bouncing back in the finale to secure the series victory. With the split, the Yellow Jackets claimed two of three on the weekend.

Game 1
Southwestern struck early in the opener and built a lead that Howard Payne could not fully erase. The Pirates put up runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings to create separation before the Jackets answered late.

Howard Payne broke through in the sixth inning, plating two runs behind key at-bats from Nader Gulamhusein and Huston Cornish. The Jackets added two more in the seventh as they continued to chip away, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome in a 13-4 loss.

Offensively, Howard Payne totaled nine hits, with Nader Gulamhusein and John Garza each recording multi-hit games. Despite the late push, Southwestern maintained control to take the first game of the day.

Game 2
The nightcap turned into an offensive showcase, and Howard Payne delivered when it mattered most. After falling behind 4-0 early, the Jackets responded with a seven-run third inning that completely shifted the momentum.

The rally featured contributions up and down the lineup. Joshua Lile and Hunter Pope helped set the table before Jace MacKenzie and John Garza delivered key RBI hits. Garza's two-run single capped the inning and gave Howard Payne its first lead of the game.

The Jackets were not done. John Garza came through again in the fourth with a three-RBI single to extend the advantage, finishing the game with four hits and four RBIs in a standout performance at the plate. Skyler Fields added a home run earlier in the contest and contributed to the offensive surge, while Huston Cornish drove in two runs to keep pressure on Southwestern pitching.

Even as Southwestern attempted to rally late, Howard Payne continued to answer offensively and held on for a 13-12 win in a back-and-forth battle.

"After dropping the first game, I was proud of how our guys bounced back in the nightcap," said head coach Stephen Lynn. "Everyone contributed at the plate, and our pitching did enough to keep us in the game. That kind of resilience is exactly what we need to carry us forward."

Saturday showcased the resilience of the Yellow Jackets. After a tough start in Game 1, the offense erupted in Game 2 to secure the series victory and close the homestand on a high note.

The Jackets will look to keep that momentum going in a 3 game homestand against Schreiner University starting on Friday with a double-header on Saturday.