Brownwood, Texas-The University of the Ozarks softball team let a 3-1 lead slip away as Howard Payne scored five runs in the third inning to take a 10-5 win over the Eagles Saturday in American Southwest Conference play.

Ozarks (2-1, 2-1 ASC) opened the game with two runs on three hits. Krysten Shavers started off the first inning with an RBI double. Katie Ventress followed with another RBI double to put the Eagles in front 2-0. After Howard Payne responded with a run in the bottom of the first, Ozarks scored a run in the top of the second on Brooke Hoffsommer's RBI. However, Howard Payne would score five runs in the third. The Eagles eventually scored twice in the sixth to trim the deficit to 6-5. Howard Payne then answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to secure the game.

Haley Hardy, Shavers and Sydney Key had two hits.

Ozarks will host Louisiana College February 17-18.