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Henderson State rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat defending national champion Central Oklahoma 5-4, Saturday at the 8-State Softball Classic in Bentonville, Ark.

Trailing 3-0 and managing just one base runner in the first three innings, Henderson State cut into the UCO lead by scoring two runs in the fourth-inning.

With two-outs, Ashlyn White reached on a single then Morgan South blasted her first home run of the year to make the score 3-2.

UCO, ranked No. 1 in the NFCA preseason poll, plated a run in the bottom of the fifth-inning to make the score 4-2, but the Lady Reddies erupted for three runs in the sixth-inning.

Henderson State loaded the bases with one out as Tricia Hock walked with Amber Klug reaching on a single. White then loaded the bases when she reached on an error.

Two batters later, Sarah Gibson tied the score with a two-run double with Henderson's eventual game-winning run scoring when Jaylin Baldridge reached on an error by the UCO shortstop.

Kayla Williams and White combined to shut down the Bronchos the final two innings to preserve the win.

On the first day of the tournament, Henderson State squandered a pair of five run leads as the Lady Reddies lost to Minnesota-Duluth 7-6 and Central Missouri 11-10.

Following Henderson's win over UCO, the Lady Reddies lost to Emporia State 8-3 to finish the tournament 1-3.
Tricia Hock finished the four-game tournament hitting .538 going 7-for-13 with two doubles and a triple.

Sarah Gipson was 6-for-12 during the tournament for a .500 average. Gipson had a double with five runs batted in.

Also having a solid tournament were Ashlyn White and Morgan South. White was 5-for-10 with five runs scored, a home run and two RBI. South was 4-for-11 with three runs scored, a home run and four RBI.

Henderson State will begin Great American Conference play on Friday, Feb. 21 with the Lady Reddies playing host to East Central in a four-game series beginning at 1 p.m. at Dee White Field.