ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State took an early lead on Friday but Northwest Missouri State racked up 14 hits and defeated the Reddies 10-6 in their home opener at Clyde Berry Field.

Cade Tucker led the Reddies with two hits and three RBIs, while five other players each picked up one hit in the game. Drake Salsman took the loss on the mound for HSU after allowing three runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Tucker got Henderson off to a quick start in the first when he tattooed the first pitch he had ever seen at Clyde Berry Field deep over the wall in left center to put HSU up 3-0.

Northwest responded with a run in the second, and after an RBI double from Greyson Stevens in the bottom half restored a three-run lead for the Reddies, the Bearcats put up another in the third to make it 4-2.

HSU scratched its fifth run in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI ground out from Kolby Reck which scored Danny Mitchell Jr., but Northwest rallied in the bottom half and got a bases-clearing double from Peter Carlson to erase the deficit and knot things up at 5-5.

After a scoreless sixth for both sides, the Bearcats had the game's defining stretch in the seventh when they got three-consecutive RBI doubles — all into the gap in left center — to seize an 8-5 advantage.

Henderson tried to scrap back into it and got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a sac fly from Bryson Haskins, but mistakes killed the Reddies' comeback chances in the eighth, as an error in centerfield and an interference call on the third base line helped Northwest plate two unearned runs which sealed the game.

The Bearcats had their bats going on Friday, as eight of their 14 hits were for extra bases.

The Reddies return to action at home tomorrow when they face Newman University at 5 p.m.