Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
BROWNWOOD, Texas – McMurry's school-record winning streak was first extended to 12 games before Howard Payne put an end to it as the school's split an American Southwest Conference West Division doubleheader Friday afternoon at Don Shepard Park.  McMurry won game one of the twinbill, 10-9, before the Yellow Jackets took the series finale, 8-7. 

The split moves McMurry to 22-13 and 12-6 in ASC West, which places them in third place in the West standings.  McMurry returns to action on Tuesday, April 14, when they host Texas-Dallas in an ASC crossover game at 2 p.m. at Walt Driggers Field.  McMurry will then finish out ASC West play with a home three-game set against Sul Ross State on Friday and Saturday. 

In game one, both teams entered the seventh inning tied at seven.  In the top of the seventh, McMurry's Nathan Love hit an RBI base hit with the bases loaded, which plated Stephen Derrick from third to give McMurry an 8-7 lead.  The next batter, Bradd Baker, then hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, which scored Jeff Jackson to make it 9-7.  Then with two outs in the inning, Nathan Saltzgaber singled up the middle to score hit brother, Derek Saltzgaber, which gave McMurry a 10-7 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. 

That margin proved to be just enough as the Yellow Jackets only scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.  HPU did have the tying run on third with two outs, but McMurry pitcher Cory Davis was able to get HPU designated hitter Taylor Zambreski to fly out to right field to end the game.

The tides turned in the second game, though, as HPU was able to eek out a late-inning one-run game.  The teams were tied at seven after the Yellow Jackets scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth.  That score remained the same until HPU was able to score one run in the bottom of the eighth, which proved to be the difference in the game.