The Henderson State Softball team opened their 2012 season with a doubleheader split against No. 20 Midwestern State University on Sunday afternoon at Dee White Field.

HSU took game one of the twin-bill, 4-1, behind an impressive pitching performance from senior right-hander Melissa Decker. Decker went the distance in the circle for the Lady Reddies (1-1), giving up three hits and one unearned run while striking out six.

The Lady Mustangs (1-1) got on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the second, but the Lady Reddies would answer back in the bottom half of the frame with a pair of runs. With one out in the inning, HSU's Hali Kizer doubled to center field and then advanced to third on base hit by rookie Laura Beth Ray. A steal of second base by Ray placed two runners in scoring position for senior Ashley Ray. A. Ray would get the Lady Reddies on the board on a sacrifice fly to left field. L. Ray would be chased home on a RBI single over the short stop by Amy Halter.

The score would remain 2-1 in favor of Henderson State until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Lady Reddies added a pair of insurance runs. Junior catcher Amber Klug led off the inning with a single up the middle. She would be replaced on the base paths by Ellie McMahen. A sacrifice bunt by Heather Ivey put McMahen in scoring position with one out. The big blow came in the ensuing at-bat as Amber Wilburn parked a ball over the fence in left-center field to give the Lady Reddies a 4-1 lead heading into the final inning.

Decker would make quick work of the Lady Mustangs in the top of the seventh inducing a lineout, popout, and a strikeout to end the game and give the Lady Reddies the upset win.

Game two saw the Lady Reddies jump out on top with a pair of runs in the top of the first. The two runs came on a two-out, two RBI single into right field by Ivey. Midwestern would get a run back in the top of the second and pushed ahead with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Like the first game, Henderson answered right back once they got down with a pair of runs in their half of the third to take a 5-4 lead.

Both teams were held scoreless in innings four through six. Down to their last at-bat, Midwestern State rallied in the top of the seventh inning with four runs in the frame, highlighted by a homerun to left field by Kim Jerrick (her second of the game) and took a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

HSU would plate a run in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to add on, dropping the second game by a score of 7-5. Picking up the loss for the Lady Reddies was Kasey Carlock, who pitched 6.1 innings. She struck out four, but surrendered all 13 of Midwestern's hits and was charged all seven of their runs.

For the entire day, Klug led the team in hitting going 5-for-7 with a double and two RBIs. Ivey and Wilburn also picked up a pair of RBIs on the day. L. Ray, Halter, A. Ray, and Kizer each had multiple hits on the day. L. Ray was 3-of-5.

The Lady Reddies will next be in action as one of the two host schools in the OBU-HSU Softball Classic that will go from February 10th – February 12th. Games will be played at HSU and OBU fields.