ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State battled the cold on Thursday evening and scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a tie and fight past Northwest Missouri State 8-6 at Clyde Berry Field.

In a game played with a wind chill of 25 degrees, Northwest struck first in the top of the fourth on a balk and an RBI ground out to make it 2-0. Henderson (2-1) responded in the bottom half and used a bases-loaded balk of its own, an RBI single from Bryson Haskins, a two-RBI triple from Brandon Pollock, and an untimely error from the Bearcats' second baseman to plate five runs in the inning and open up a 5-2 lead.

The lead did not last long, as the Bearcats threw a haymaker in the fifth. Two singles and a Reddie error loaded the bases with one out for Northwest's Peter Carlson, who took full advantage by sending a grand slam over the left field fence to surge the Bearcats back in front, 6-5.

Suddenly trailing once again, the Reddies went back to work in the bottom half like before and used a leadoff double from Blake Wynn and a single from Joe Myers moments later to score the tying run and knot the game at 6-6.

Both teams went down in order in the seventh and although a two-out triple helped Northwest threaten in the top of the eighth, Henderson reliever Spencer Taack got a strikeout to escape the jam unscathed and send the game to the bottom of the eighth still tied up.

The Reddies finally broke through in the bottom half. With two outs in the inning, Caleb Carr singled and then scampered to third on an error by the Bearcats' right fielder to give Henderson the go-ahead run just 90 feet from home. HSU capitalized and then some, as a balk plated Carr and a single into left from Myers scored Wynn minutes later to give the Reddies an 8-6 advantage.

Taack wrapped things up neatly in the ninth as he sat the side down in order, which included striking out the final two batters, to give Henderson a big region win.

Both Pollock and Myers had two hits and two RBIs on the night to lead the Reddies at the plate. Myers also drew two walks and reached base safely in four of his five at-bats. Taack picked up the win after throwing four innings of relief and allowing just two hits while striking out five.

Henderson has a quick turnaround and plays again tomorrow at 12 p.m. against Missouri Western at Clyde Berry Field.