BROWNWOOD, Texas – McMurry University Baseball split a nonconference doubleheader at Howard Payne Saturday afternoon, taking game one, 4-1 before dropping the nightcap, 9-4.

The War Hawks have a quick turnaround, hosting Dallas Christian College at Walt Driggers Field at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

McMurry 4, Howard Payne 1

Right-hander J.T. Barnes pitched another gem for the War Hawks (3-3), allowing just one unearned run on five hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out two in picking up his second win of the young season.

The War Hawks got all of their offense in the top of the sixth, when shortstop Payton Stokes tied the game on an RBI single. Right-fielder Mike Gonzales then drove in a pair with an RBI triple, later scoring on a balk.

Nick Hamel replaced Barnes in the bottom of the sixth, and closed the game out with two scoreless innings to claim his third save. He struck out four without allowing a hit.

Gonzales, Stokes and outfielder Josh Burnett each had two hits apiece.

Howard Payne 9, McMurry 4

The War Hawks jumped out to an early lead in game two, but the Yellow Jackets scored nine unanswered runs in the fourth through seventh innings for the win.

Stokes delivered the first run of the game with an RBI single, and the next batter, second baseman Jordan Speck added a two-run single to give McMurry a 3-0 lead. Gonzales capped the inning by getting a run home on a fielder's choice.

Starter Juan Valadez breeze through the first three innings, facing just one over the minimum. But Howard Payne scored two in the fourth on a triple, before chasing Valadez in the sixth as they scored four times to take the lead.

The Yellow Jackets added three more in the seventh for the final margin.

Valadez suffered the loss allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits in 5.1 innings. The hard-throwing righty racked up nine strikeouts on the afternoon.

At the plate, third baseman Sam Hillyer led the War Hawks with a pair of hits.