Henderson State held a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning of the backend game of Saturday's doubleheader at Lady Tiger Field, but East Central rallied for three runs in that frame to walk-off with a 4-3 win, and in the process completed a four-game sweep over Henderson State.
After being held to just one run in Friday's twin-bill, the Lady Reddies (15-28, 7-17 GAC) came out and totaled five runs in the first game, but the increased run total was not enough to overcome another hot offensive attack by the Lady Tigers (19-14, 9-9 GAC), who platted seven runs to earn the game one victory. HSU out-hit ECU 9-7 with
Brittnie Dean,
Amber Klug, and
Amber Wilburn all collecting multiple hits. From the leadoff spot, Dean was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Wilburn was 2-for-3, and Klug was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
In game two, a second-inning RBI double by
Hali Kizer put the Lady Reddies in the lead, 1-0. East Central would tie the game up in the bottom of the fourth, but a RBI single up the middle by Klug put HSU back on top, 2-1. The Lady Reddies would add another run in the top of the seventh on a RBI single by Dean.
Lady Reddie starting pitcher
Melissa Decker went back into the circle to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh. Decker got a quick first out, but then allowed three consecutive hits. The last of those hits platted a run to cut the Lady Reddie lead to just a run, 3-2. Following the RBI base hit there were runners on the corners, but Decker got the second out of the inning on an unassisted grounder to first base. The out did move the runner at first base to second base and put the tying and winning runs in scoring position. An intentional walk loaded the bases for Cami Correa. Correa would then end the game with a two-RBI double to left-center field.
Henderson State will return home to close out the 2012 regular season as they will play host to Southern Arkansas in a four-game Great American Conference series at Dee White Field starting on Saturday, April 14th. The first pitch of the series is set for 1:00 p.m.