ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — The Reddies took advantage of Mississippi College mistakes and scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab a 4-3 victory in their home opener on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Mallory Brewer picked up her first win of the year for Henderson State, going the distance with a valiant effort against a strong MC lineup. Brewer allowed five hits and three earned runs in seven innings of action.

The win helped HSU earn a Saturday split, as it fell 6-5 to No. 21 Tarleton State later in the afternoon.

Kaitlyn O'Quinn and Kailey Reese each extended their hitting streaks to six games on the day, as each picked up a base knock both of HSU's two contests.

Henderson (3-3) will finish the McGhee-Hawkins Invitational on Sunday with a matchup against the nation's top ranked team, No. 1 Texas A&M-Kingsville, at 11 a.m., and a finale with Christian Brothers scheduled for 1 p.m.

Game 1: Henderson State 4, Mississippi College 3
It was a textbook pitcher duel between HSU's Brewer and MC's Avery Barnett for the first four innings of Saturday morning's contest. The Lady Choctaws' leadoff hitter Rayne Minor beat out an infield single and stole second to start the game, but after inducing a double play, Brewer faced the minimum amount of batters through the first two innings.
 
Still scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth, HSU had a great chance to strike first after O'Quinn and Reese led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Following a failed sacrifice bunt attempt, Camryn Williams squared one up, but hit it right at the third baseman, who made the catch and threw behind O'Quinn at second for the inning-ending double play.
 
Following four great innings, Brewer began to have some control issues in the later stages. A leadoff walk turned into a run in the top of the fifth, and the junior hit a batter and walked two more in the sixth as MC took a 3-0 lead.
 
For the second time in the game, O'Quinn and Reese gave the HSU offense a chance to get going in the bottom of the sixth after O'Quinn drew a free pass and Reese wore one to give HSU runners on first and second with nobody out. Abbie Moore, known for her power, laid down a bunt single which brought O'Quinn home and moved Reese to third after a throwing error on the Mississippi College third basement.
 
With the score 3-1 and Williams at the plate, the Reddies put on the double steal attempt, forcing the opposing shortstop into a throwing error, allowing Reese to score and moved Moore to third with still nobody out.
 
After getting unlucky in the fourth, Williams made the most of her second RBI opportunity, doubling home Moore as the Reddies tied the game 3-3. Crysta Larey would pinch run for Williams, instantly stole third, and would wind up scoring the winning run after the third error of the inning by the Lady Choctaws' infield.
 
Pitching with the lead for the first time, Brewer retired the MC lineup in order in the seventh to give the Reddies their first home win of the year, 4-3.
 
Game 2: No. 21 Tarleton State 6, Henderson State 5
The Reddies were quick to answer a solo home run from TSU's Morgan Ling in the top of the second. With one out and the bases empty, the senior Kaitlyn Felder stood strong in the batter's box and took a hit by pitch, which was followed by a walk issued to Monica Monreal. Moments later, Alyssa Dixon found some grass in right center and scored Felder from second with an RBI single. For the second time in as many games, the Reddies put on the double steal and executed it to perfection as Monreal stole home to give HSU a 2-1 lead.
 
After a two-run blast gave Tarleton a 3-2 in the top of the third, HSU used a clutch two-out rally to reclaim the lead in the fourth. With seemingly nothing doing, Monreal and Dixon worked back-to-back walks which brought Ashlyn Taylor to the plate with two on and two out. The sophomore smashed a double to right center, clearing the bases and returning the lead to the Reddies, 4-3. O'Quinn, the very next batter singled home her fellow underclassmen, finding some room through the right side of the infield as the Reddies scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead.
 
Unfortunately, Tarleton opened the sixth with four straight hits, tying the game at 5-5, before a sacrifice fly brought home Kristen Zuehl to make it 6-5. The Reddies managed just one baserunner in the sixth and seventh and were unable to put together their second comeback of the day, falling 6-5.