BROWNWOOD ( March 15, 2013) -- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team battled back from an early deficit only to see their lead erased by Howard Payne’s three-run ninth inning as the Cru lost a 7-6 decision to the Yellow Jackets Friday afternoon in Brownwood. The loss drops UMHB to 7-11 overall and 0-4 in American Southwest Conference West Division play. Howard Payne improves to 14-10 overall and 1-3 in the ASC West with the win.

HPU took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second inning before UMHB tied it with two runs in the top of the fourth. Chase Burrow’s RBI fielder’s choice drove in the first run and he came around to score on Garrett Webb’s RBI triple. The Yellow Jackets answered with two in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. The Cru once again answered, this time with a three-run sixth inning. Zach Whiddon and Tyler Taute both doubled home runs and Burrow added an RBI single to give UMHB a 5-4 lead. Justin Dingman’s RBI single made it 6-4 UMHB in the top of the eighth before HPU closed it out with that ninth-inning rally. After the first two batters were retired, a walk, error and single scored the first run to cut it 6-5. An infield single loaded the bases before a bases loaded walk and hit batter scored the tying and winning runs to close it out.

Whiddon had three hits for UMHB and Webb and Taute added two hits apiece. Aaron Barteau took the loss for the Cru to drop to 0-2 on the year. Three different players had two hits apiece to lead HPU’s nine-hit attack.

The two teams will wrap up the series with a 1:00 PM doubleheader tomorrow in Brownwood. The Cru will then return home to host Hardin-Simmons for a three-game ASC West Division series next weekend at Red Murff Field.