Brownwood, Texas-The Lady Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead only to have Howard Payne University storm back to take a 8-3 win in American Southwest Conference play Saturday.
    
Ozarks (3-25, 2-19 ASC) had control of the game early as Bailey Hames doubled in Molly Bowman, who had reached base on a single. With two outs, Hames eventually stole home to give the Lady Eagles a 2-0 advantage. But Howard Payne (4-21, 3-18 ASC) responded with a run in the first and second innings to even the contest. Howard Payne then kept Ozarks scoreless in the second, third, fourth and fifth inning, while scoring three runs of their own in the third and two more in the fifth to hold a 7-2 lead. The Lady Eagles generated a run in the sixth to close the gap to 7-3, but couldn't push any more across the plate. Bowman finished 2-for-4 to lead Ozarks. 
    
Ozarks will host conference foe Mary Hardin-Baylor April 4-5 in a three-game series.