RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Henderson State had 10 hits on Monday, including four from Joseph Shepherd, but stranded 12 runners and saw an early lead slip away in an 8-3 loss to Arkansas Tech.

After two scoreless inning to begin play, an RBI single from Josh Aguilar in the third inning scored Blake Wynn from second base to give the Reddies a 1-0 lead. Henderson added to its early advantage in the fourth, when Wynn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to plate Bryson Haskins and make it 2-0.

Tech answered almost instantly, as a walk to the first batter of the bottom half and a blast to left field from the second tied the score at 2-2. The Wonder Boys got another two-run home run in the fifth to take their first lead, 4-2, then tacked on two in the seventh and eighth to open up an 8-2 advantage.

Down to their final three outs, the Reddies got one run back in the top of the ninth when Shepherd drove in Daniel Colasanto with an RBI single, but there was no miracle rally, as ATU closed it down to sweep the series.

Shepherd led the Reddies on the day with a 4-for-5 showing at the plate, which included a double and the late RBI. Aguilar was 3-for-4 on the afternoon with one RBI and a walk, while Colasanto had one hit in the game to finish the series 5-for-11. Austin Cross started the game for HSU — his first work of the season to this point — and threw two innings without allowing a hit or run.

Henderson returns to the friendly confines of Clyde Berry Field for midweek games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Reddies host Lyon College Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Union University Wednesday at 3 p.m.