The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets salvaged the finale of their three-game American Southwest Conference baseball series with UT-Dallas, notching a 4-3 victory Saturday afternoon.

Following losses of 27-8 Friday and 10-4 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, the Yellow Jackets (1-4, 1-2) collected their first win of the season.

In the win, the Yellow Jackets trailed 3-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. David Berzins and Jonathan McKay singled consecutively to start the inning, then Joey Villarreal reached on a fielding error to load the bases. With two outs, pinch-hitter Trevor Fletcher stepped to the plate and launched a three-run triple to left-center field to secure the walk-off victory.

Howard Payne collected a dozen hits – three each by Villarreal and Berzins and one apiece by McKay, Fletcher, Nolyn Box, Rylee McGee, Tanner Benson, and David Paleo.

On the mound, Xavier Haines picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and one walk in two innings. Kyle Purdes started and worked seven innings with one run allowed on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action next weekend with a three-game ASC series at Ozarks – a noon Friday doubleheader with the finale at 1 p.m. Saturday.