The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets won the finale of their three-game baseball series with Mary Hardin-Baylor by a 5-4 count Saturday at Don Shepard Park.

Mary-Hardin Baylor got on the board first, scoring two runs in the sixth inning. Howard Payne answered in the bottom of the sixth. Jonathan McKay scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-1.

The Cru increased their lead to two in the top of the eighth. The Yellow Jackets scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning.

The Yellow Jackets were able to hold off the Cru, claiming the 5-4 victory.

Jonathan McKay went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Tanner Benson went 2-for-4. Joey Villarreal, Derek Gifford, Taylor Griner, and Nolyn Box each had 1 RBI.

Kyle Purdes (1-3) recorded the win in the start for HPU. Purdes threw eight innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out five. Xavier Haines recorded the save, allowing one run on three hits.

Howard Payne is now 5-18 overall and 2-16 in conference play. Mary Hardin-Baylor is 13-13 overall and 6-9 in conference play. The Yellow Jackets will play Hardin Simmons in a three-game series in Brownwood starting on Friday April 16.

[Story courtesy of HPUSports.com]