BOX SCORE BROWNWOOD, Texas -- Three unearned runs decided Thursday afternoon's opening contest at Howard Payne, and sadly it was the Concordia Texas softball team who fell short, 2-1.

The Tornados were able to score first, taking advantage of one of three Lady Jacket errors on the day.

Starter Shelby Burrus got some help from her defense early. After HPU's Rachel Hitt singled to open the bottom of the first, Hitt was later cut down at the plate on a great toss from Angelica Ramirez in center. Brooke Jones also made a good toss to the plate to retire the side.

Haley Denntt drove in Concordia's lone run came in the third.

The Lady Jackets tied the game in the sixth after a CTX miscue.

The game remain tied until the bottom of the eighth, when Howard Payne's Haley Slater drove in the winning run on a single.

The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at Noon.