BROWNWOOD, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team earned a 5-3 win against Howard Payne Friday afternoon in Brownwood. This win improves the Cru's overall record to 21-15 and 6-6 in conference play. The Yellow Jackets fall to 8-26 on the season with a 1-11 mark in league action.
 
Howard Payne got on the board first, scoring off an RBI single in the bottom of the first. Austin Birkhoff responded for the Cru, hitting a two-run homerun to put the Cru ahead 2-1. UMHB threatened again in the third with a pair of runners in scoring position but the Yellow Jackets pitched out of the jam. Howard Payne scored the equalizer in the bottom of the fourth off an RBI single and took a lead in the fifth with an RBI fielder's choice.
 
Alejandro Sanchez III got on base with a hit-by-pitch, advanced to second on a failed pick off, stole third and then scored on an error to even the game at 3-3. UMHB went back ahead in the eighth, scoring two runs. Sanchez hit a solo home run for a 4-3 lead before Cameron Talburt scored Austin Birkhoff with an RBI single for a 5-3 margin, securing the Cru's victory.
 
Alejandro Sanchez III went two-for-four at the plate with a home run and two stolen bases. Austin Birkhoff added a homerun along with two runs scored and two RBI. Jacob Haynes earned the win for the Cru, throwing 4.0 innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs allowed.
 
UMHB returns to action in a three-game series with East Texas Baptist University next week in Belton. The Cru opens with a 6 p.m. contest on Thursday, April 24^th and follows with a 2 p.m. doubleheader Friday and a 1 p.m. single game on Saturday.