RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — After dropping an extra-inning nail biter in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader with Arkansas Tech, Henderson State rebounded by grinding out a 2-1 win in the second contest to earn a split with the Golden Suns on the first day of the Great American Conference series.

The Reddies play the second doubleheader of the series tomorrow, with games scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

GAME TWO: Henderson State 2, Arkansas Tech 1
Henderson State scored two runs in the fourth inning and its pitching staff limited Arkansas Tech to just four hits, as the Reddies defeated the Golden Suns 2-1 to earn a split on the first day of the teams' Great American Conference series.

After three scoreless innings that saw just three hits from either team, the Reddies (14-7, 6-4) broke through in the top of the fourth. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Ashleigh Erb singled into left field to score Madie Green and put Henderson up 1-0. The next batter, Kailey Reese, carried a ball deep into center field to score Christianna Camp from third base, giving her an RBI sac fly and the Reddies a 2-0 advantage.

The Golden Suns (16-6, 7-3) got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly into left field, which scored Tech's runner from third base. Henderson limited the damage, however, by doubling up ATU-runner Gaby Vasquez, who was trying to advance to third base. The 7-5 put out ended the inning and the ATU threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, Mallory Brewer replaced starter Becca Almond for the Reddies in the circle and made the final two innings as painless as possible for Henderson, as she sat down six-straight batters to pick up her second save of the year and give HSU a 2-1 win.

Almond was tremendous and picked up her second win of the season for the Reddies by pitching five innings and allowing just one run, on four hits. Henderson's offensive efforts were led by Erb, who finished with a hit and an RBI. Lindsey Williams, Olivia Trapp, Camp and Green each had one hit apiece.

GAME ONE: Arkansas Tech 4, Henderson State 1
Henderson State scored the first run of the game and battled into extra innings, but Arkansas Tech got a walk-off home run in the eighth to outlast the Reddies 4-1 in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

The Reddies got on the board first in the top of the third when Madie Green hit a solo shot well over the left field fence to notch her fourth home run of the season and give Henderson a 1-0 lead. The advantage was short-lived, as Tech answered in the bottom half of the inning when Ashton Sangster stole home to tie things up, 1-1.

After ATU moved a runner to third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and HSU pitcher Sydney Bonner got her to ground out, the game moved into extras. In the Reddies eighth, Henderson had an opportunity, as Olivia Trapp singled and then advanced to second base on a sac bunt. HSU could not plate her though, as the next two batters struck out and flied out to send it to the bottom half.

ATU got going quickly and used back-to-back singles to put the pressure on the Reddies. Tech's next batter, Megan Goodnight, ended the game by carrying a ball over the wall in left center, giving her three RBIs and the Golden Suns a hard-fought 4-1 win.

Bonner gave Henderson a solid outing in the circle despite the loss, as she went seven innings and allowed four runs, on seven hits. As a team, the Reddies strung together five hits and were led by Green, who finished with a hit and an RBI on her home run in the third.