EDMOND, Okla. — Pittsburg State scored three runs in the second inning on Saturday and held Henderson State to just two in the game to defeat the Reddies 6-2 at the UCO First Pitch Invitational.

The Reddies (0-2) were led by Caleb Carr, who finished with two hits, and Brinson Williams, who had two base knocks and drove in HSU's two runs in his first action in a Henderson uniform. 

Pitt State jumped in front in the top of the second frame when they used three hits, as well as a walk and a hit batter, to plate three runs and open up a 3-0 lead. The Gorillas increased the lead to 4-0 in the fourth after a walk, a wild pitch a single and sac bunt helped plate their fourth run.

Henderson got going in the fifth when a lead-off double from Greyson Stevens was cashed in by a run-scoring single from Williams moments later to make it 4-1. The Reddies could not capitalize on Carr's single to lead-off the sixth, though, and were stung by two more Gorilla runs in the top of the seventh and eighth, which increased the deficit to 6-1.

The bottom half of the eighth began with promise for the Reddies after Williams opened the inning with a solo home run to make it 6-2 and Bryson Haskins doubled down the line on the next at-bat. Two strikeouts and a line-out ended the threat quickly, however, and HSU went in order in the ninth.

Brayden Bebee took the loss on the mound for the Reddies after going four innings and allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Drake Salsman pitched well in relief for Henderson and struck out six batters in three innings of work while allowing just three hits and a run.

HSU plays again tomorrow at 4 p.m. when it faces Emporia State in the final game of the weekend invitational in Oklahoma.