JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – The Howard Payne Lady Jackets picked up one win in three chances at No. 11 Belhaven over the weekend to fall into a second-place tie in the West Division of the American Southwest Conference softball standings.

Belhaven (15-5, 7-2), which trails only top-ranked East Texas Baptist in the East Division, defeated the Lady Jackets (10-6, 5-4) by counts of 2-1 in both the first and last games of the series. Howard Payne’s win, by a 5-3 count, concluded a Friday doubleheader.

In HPU’s victory, the Lady Jackets broke a 2-all tie with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Belhaven cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, but Howard Payne tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.

Alexis Sullivan finished with two hits, including a solo home run that pushed HPU in front, 3-2. Tori Muto also added a pair of hits and Aurora Luera added one and an RBI. Alyssa Corpus and Brianna Perez drove in runs as well on an RBI ground out and an RBI fielder’s choice, respectively.

Hannah Morales notched the win, pitching four innings and allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Bree Cason worked three innings and yielded two runs on six hits with one strikeout.

The Lady Jackets will host Louisiana College (8-10, 3-3) for three games Friday and Saturday.