Henderson State survived a late rally by Southern Nazarene as the Reddies beat the Crimson Storm 10-8 to begin Great American Conference play Friday in Bethany, Okla.
The Reddies banged out a season-high 10 hits and got another big pitching performance from
Bryant Haralson, but SNU rallied late scoring a pair of runs in the eighth, six more in the ninth and even had the tying run at the plate.
Henderson State, 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the GAC, got on the board first scoring two runs in the second-inning.
Taylor Langston started things with a single up the middle followed by
Jackson Martin being hit by a pitch.
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The Reddies loaded the bases on a bunt single by
Dylan McCain with
Brentten Schwaab scoring the first run when he singled through the left side to score Langston.
Brandon Pollock drove in the second run receiving a bases loaded walk.
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Henderson extended its lead to 5-0 in the fifth-inning with the help of a double by
Jordan Harris and a run-scoring double by Schwaab.
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The Reddies manufactured two more runs the following frame benefitting from three walks, a wild pitch and a single by McCain.
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Martin belted a three-run triple in the eighth-inning driving in
Zack Gray who was hit by a pitch, Harris who reached on a single and Langston who walked.
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Southern Nazarene got on the board in the eighth-inning scoring a pair of runs off of Reddie reliever
Logan DeRosier.
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The Crimson Storm put together a big ninth-inning as three SNU batters were hit by pitches, one reached by a walk, another an error with the big hit being a double to make the score 10-8.
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SNU had a runner on third with the tying run at the plate when Harris relieved
Joseph Shepherd to get the final out of the game. Â
Haralson pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight batters while scattering four hits to pick up the win and improve to 2-0.
Harris was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored, while Schwaab was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs batted in. McCain also had a multiple-hit day going 2-for-5.
The two teams will complete the three-game GAC series with a double-header Saturday with the first pitch set for noon
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