Henderson State split a double-header with East Central to win the three-game series as the Reddies beat the Tigers 5-2 in the finale after dropping the first game 5-4 Monday at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia, Ark.

The Reddies claimed the series by virtue of winning the opener on Sunday 16-1 to remain in first-place in the Great American Conference with an 8-4 record in league play and 11-12 overall.

In the final game, Henderson trailed 2-0 after three-innings before the Reddies put together three hits to tie the game.

Joseph Gary led off the inning with a single to left field and advanced to third when AJ Kruzel lined a single right field.

Gary scored Henderson's first run as Hayden Lessenberry hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field.

After Tadarious Hawkins singled to move Kruzel to third, the Reddies tied the score on a double steal as Hawkins raced to second with Kruzel breaking home on the throw.

Henderson took its first lead in the sixth-inning as Hawkins and Matt Evans produced one-out back-to-back singles. The Reddies would use a double-steal and
Hawkins would score on ECU catcher JT Stevenson's errant throw.

Relief pitcher Nick Vanthillo got some insurance runs in the seventh as Henderson plated two runs on a sacrifice by Kruzel that scored Jordan Taylor who walked to lead off the inning and a Lessenberry single that drove home Gary who doubled down the left field line.

Zach Eschberger pitched five innings and struck out seven batters to pick up the win. The freshman from Bullard, Texas improved to 4-2 on the year and 4-0 in GAC play.

Vanthillo pitched the final two innings and struck out three batters to pick up his third save.

In the first game, ECU built a 4-0 lead before the Reddies got on the board in the seventh-inning.

Henderson loaded the bases as Lessenberry singled, Hawkins walked and Evans reached on a bunt single with no outs.

Hunter Mayall would deliver a two-run single to get the Reddies on the board. Jordan Taylor brought home Matt Evans on a fielder's choice to make the score 4-3.

The Reddies tied the score in the eighth when pinch-runner Alex Morgan scored on a wild pitch.

ECU regained the lead in the eighth as the Tigers put together a pair of hits with the big blow being a RBI double by Jake McKeel.

The Reddies had a pair of runners on base in the ninth, but were unable to score.

Jared Gage went 3-for-3 in the series with a pair of doubles, while Lessenberry was 5-for-10 with four RBI. Evans also totaled four hits in the three games with two doubles and 5 RBI.

Henderson State will travel to Russellville on Tuesday to take on Arkansas Tech in a non-conference game beginning at 6 p.m.

Live stats and live video for the game will be available through the HSU athletic website at www.hsusports.com.