A late rally from Henderson State fell just short as the Reddie softball team dropped a 5-3 Great American Conference Tournament second round decision to Southern Arkansas on Thursday night.

Southern Arkansas would put up the first runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning, as four Lady Muleriders crossed the plate to give SAU a 4-0 lead heading into the fourth inning.

SAU was led in the inning by a Darian Harris two RBI double to right field that scored Taylor Guin and Liz Hudgins.

In the top of the fifth inning, both Ashleigh Erb and Courtney Warren would reach base for the Reddies with one out as Erb walked and Warren smacked a single to center field.

However, HSU would leave the two stranded as the Reddies headed into the bottom of the inning scoreless.

The Lady Muleriders would add one run in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Casada singled to score Maddie Dow and give SAU at 5-0 advantage.

HSU attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh inning on three straight hits from Morgan South, Shayla Wright, and Warren that would load the bases with one out for HSU.

A ground out to third base by Destiny Garza on the Reddies' next at-bat would score Morgan South for HSU's first run of the game.

Ashlyn White would then step to the plate and smash a double to left-center, scoring two runs as Warren and Wright advanced home.

However, Southern Arkansas would record two more outs before HSU could pull any closer than two runs, escaping with the 5-3 victory.

Michelle Sorensen suffered the loss for the Reddies, falling to 20-11 on the season while Kaylee Garner picked up the win for SAU.

The Reddies finished the contest with six hits, including four in the final inning, but could not overcome four errors in the game.

With the loss, Henderson State will move to the loser's bracket to face the winner of Arkansas Monticello and Southern Nazarene on Friday at 3 p.m.