ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -
Abbie Moore combined to go 5-for-8 with five RBIs,
Madie Green reached based safely in seven of her eight trips to the plate, and
Mallory Brewer picked up a win and a save as the Reddies won their first two games of the 2019 season in a doubleheader over Missouri S&T and Southwest Baptist.
Game 1: Henderson State 7, Missouri S&T 3
The Reddies got on the board in the bottom of the first, after starting pitcher Becca Almond worked in and out of trouble in the top half of the inning. Lindsey Williams opened the contest with a single, stole second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Marcela Lopez. Following the sacrifice, Kailey Reese gave HSU a 1-0 lead, when she scorched one down the third base line, bringing Williams home.
Both pitchers settled into a groove and the game remained 1-0 HSU heading into the top of the fourth, when S&T's cleanup hitter Gretchen Egly hit a first pitch home run to tie the game 1-1. The Miners grabbed the lead a few minutes later, after an HSU error with the bases loaded proved costly. Almond limited the damage however, getting a groundout on the next batter to ensure just a one-run deficit, 2-1.
Missouri S&T's lead quickly evaporated in the bottom half of the fourth inning. After Green was hit by a pitch, Moore laid down a perfectly placed bunt, and the S&T pitcher airmailed an already late throw, allowing Green to score from first base, tying the game 2-2. The Reddies loaded the bases but were unable to grab the lead, and the score remained 2-2 after four innings.
Brewer replaced Almond and worked a quick fifth inning to bring HSU back up to the plate, where the Reddies took their second lead of the morning as Moore brought Lopez home with a groundout to the shortstop, making the score 3-2, Henderson.
After S&T tied the game in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly to center field, the Reddies broke things open in the bottom of the inning. After two singles from Cecily Rodriguez and Alexis Morton, an S&T error brought Rodriguez home, giving the Reddies a 4-3 lead. HSU loaded the bases once again, bringing Green back to the plate, who remained perfect on the season after working a walk on a 3-2 count to score Ashlyn Taylor and make the score 5-3 Henderson. With the bases still loaded, Moore slapped a ground ball between the shortstop and third baseman, scoring two runs, and extending the lead to 7-3.
Brewer slammed the door with a seven pitch seventh, notching her first victory and giving the Reddies their first win of 2019.
Game 2: Henderson State 9, Southwest Baptist 3
The Reddies rallied from behind, dominating the game's final five innings to grab two wins on Sunday afternoon.
Despite falling behind 3-0, the Reddies got the bats going in the bottom of the third. After a single and an error, Kailey Reese drove home Ashlyn Taylor for the Reddies first run. Following a walk and stolen base from Greene, Moore continued a fantastic day at the plate with her second two-RBI single of the doubleheader to tie the game, 3-3.
SBU threatened in the fourth and had runners on first and second when Sam Moran came to the plate. Moran pulled a line drive to left field that found the outfield grass, but Reese fired a perfect throw to catcher Christianna Camp to nail the runner trying to score from second base.
Using the momentum generated by Reese's throw, the Reddies loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth after Taylor's second hit was sandwiched between two walks. Marcela Lopez came to the plate looking for her first RBI and delivered with a two-RBI single over the head of the third baseman to push HSU in front, 5-3. Green doubled the lead moments later by lacing a line drive to center field which scored two and stretched Henderson's advantage to 7-3.
Reddies added two more in the bottom of the sixth with RBIs from Reese and Green, as Brewer picked up a three-inning save to help the Reddies sweep their Sunday slate, 9-3.
