AUSTIN, Texas – Behind a pair of come-from-behind victories on Saturday, the 16th-ranked Concordia University Texas claimed an American Southwest Conference (ASC) series with Howard Payne at Tornado Field. The Tornados won the opening contest, 8-2, and rallied for a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.

Concordia Texas (23-7, 18-5 ASC) again relied upon its strong starting pitching.

Cameron Cox went the distance in the first contest, scattering six hits and allowing two runs. The right-hander also fanned seven and issued only walk, while improving to 6-2 on the year.

Kiel Harmon (5-0) hurled the first six frames of the nightcap and allowed only three hits and two runs (one earned) before giving way to the bullpen. Brandon Garwood pitched the final three stanzas and gave up two hits and run while striking out four to earn his second save of the spring.

The Tornados tallied 15 hits on the day. Kyle Rodriguez had a hit in each game, including a two-run homer in the finale, and drove in three. Estevan Hernandez and Gareth Hutton each posted a pair of hits apiece in the nightcap, while Hutton also drove in a run.

In the opening tilt, the Yellow Jackets (14-15, 11-13 ASC) had a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. However, Concordia scored eight unanswered runs in its next four at-bats to overtake the visitors for good.

Howard Payne took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the fourth of the finale, but CTX responded with two runs in the bottom of the panel and never looked back. The Tornados added their final mark in the sixth, while the Yellow Jackets managed one in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Concordia will return to action on Thursday, April 17, when it travels to Texas-Tyler for the first of a three-game series.