ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Deadlocked in a 2-2 tie, Henderson State exploded for nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Saturday to break open a close game and defeat Newman 11-2 at Clyde Berry Field.

Danny Mitchell Jr. finished with two hits, two stolen bases and an RBI to lead Henderson's efforts at the plate, while eight other players contributed hits to HSU's big night offensively.

The Reddies went out to an early lead in the second inning when a solo home run from Mitchell Jr. and an RBI on a fielder's choice from Greyson Stevens put them in front 2-0.

The Jets rallied to tie the game in the top of the fifth behind an RBI double and a sacrifice bunt which plated two runs and knotted things up at 2-2.

In what had been a tight contest for six innings, Henderson got things going in the bottom of the seventh. HSU drew three-straight walks to begin the frame and then cashed in courtesy of Joe Myers, whose first hit of the year drove in Josh Aguilar to give the Reddies a 3-2 advantage. Henderson was not done in the inning, however, and plated two more on an RBI ground out from Cade Tucker and a wild pitch to increase the lead to 5-2.

After Taylor Langston entered for HSU and struck out the side in the top of the eighth, the wheels fell off for Newman in the bottom half of the inning. The Reddies racked up four hits and used three walks and three wild pitches to score six runs in the frame and race out to an 11-2 lead.

Langston finished things off in style for Henderson in the top of the ninth, as he struck out the side for the second-straight inning to lock up the Reddies' first win of the year.

Jon Youngblood got the win for HSU on the mound after pitching a scoreless seventh inning, but starter Brayden Bebee was terrific on the night. The Arkadelphia native went 6.0 innings, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven Newman batters. The Jets had just four hits and two extra base hits in the game.

The Reddies play again tomorrow at 10 a.m. when they host Central Oklahoma at Clyde Berry Field.