BROWNWOOD, TEXAS -- The Blackburn College Baseball team continued their week in Texas by taking on Howard Payne University but were unable to grab victory as they fell to the Yellow Jackets 13-3. 

Junior Frankie Ruiz led the way with three hits and scored two runs. Freshman Luke Ellinger and freshman Gehrig Loera both added two hits and a run batted in. Freshman Harley Carney found himself on base multiple times as he finished the game with three walks. 

Down 6-0 early, Blackburn got on the board in the fourth inning. After an out started the inning, freshman Dominic Medrano singled and then advanced to third on a ball hit by Ruiz. Ellingler followed with a single to score Medrano and put Ruiz on third. A strike out brought Loera to the plate, who hit the third single of the inning to score Ruiz for the second run. The runs would cut into the HPU lead, but the Yellow Jackets held a 7-2 lead after their inning. 

Facing a 13-2 deficit in the ninth inning, the Beavers managed to cut the deficit slightly. Ruiz, Ellinger and Carney all walked to load the bases, and Ruiz was able to score off a wild pitch from the HPU pitcher. Unfortunately, BC would be unable to score again and fell 13-3. 

Blackburn returns to action Wednesday to visit Arlington Baptist University.