Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

With the Great American Conference regular season title on the line, the Henderson State softball team climbed one game closer on Saturday after splitting the first two of a four-game series with second-place Southeastern Oklahoma.

The Reddies, 35-11 overall and 25-7 in the GAC, need one more win the clinch its first softball title in school history. Southeastern Oklahoma, 30-19 and 24-8 is attempting to claim its third straight championship.

It was Senior Day at Dee White Field, as the four Reddie seniors – Sarah Gipson, Tricia Hock, Amy Halter, and Alicia Zack - were honored.

The teams needed extra innings to decide the first contest of the day, as the score was knotted 2-2 at the end of seven innings after Hock plated Morgan South in the bottom of the seventh on a single to shortstop.

HSU gave up one run to the Savage Storm in the top of the eighth, and was not able to get on the board in its next outing, falling in game one 3-2.

Michelle Sorensen pitched the first seven innings for the Reddies before Ashlyn White came in to relieve in the final inning. White suffered the loss for HSU, but was able to bounce back to pick up the win in game two, moving her record to 12-3 on the season.

In game two, HSU stormed out to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning after Caroline Cullins started the inning off with a triple to center field, scoring South and picking up an RBI.

Hock then singled to score Cullins from third to give the Reddies a 2-1 lead, before Gipson rounded out the inning with a single to right center field to plate Hock.

Both teams held each other scoreless before the Reddies broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, as Henderson State smashed back-to-back-to-back solo home runs by Gipson, Keirsten Seahorn, and Taylor Daniels.

After taking a 6-1 lead, the Reddies added three more runs to take the victory in five innings.

A Hock double to left field scored Zack and Alison Waggoner, while Halter put the finishing touches on the 9-1 win with a walk-off single to center field, bringing Hock home from third base.

Hock led the Reddies with three hits and three RBI in game two, while Gipson and Halter each recorded two hits.

HSU broke the single-season record for conference wins in a season with the victory on Saturday.

The Reddies must win one of two games Sunday to clinch, with the first pitch set for Noon.