ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State began the 2021 season and the David Martinez era in style on Friday afternoon, as the Reddies earned a walk-off 3-2 win in the first game of opening day to split a doubleheader with Delta State at Dee White Field.

HSU (1-1) returns to action on Feb. 12-14 when it co-hosts the McGhee-Hawkins Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

GAME ONE: Henderson State 3, Delta State 2
Henderson State got a big solo home run from Czoey White in the sixth, then plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth, to rally and defeat Delta State 3-2 on opening day at Dee White Field.

Freshman Leeann Beasley got the win in the circle for the Reddies in her first college game by pitching the last 2.2 innings and allowing just one hit. Beasley struck out four of the 11 batters she faced, including the first two back-to-back in the fifth inning to get HSU out of a bases loaded jam.

Mallory Brewer earned a no-decision after starting and pitching 5.1 innings and giving up one run on four hits. White, Abbie Moore and Kailey Reese each had a hit and an RBI in the win.

The Reddies managed just two hits through the first 5.2 innings on Friday afternoon, but DSU stranded 11 batters and led just 1-0 with four outs left to get. Trailing by a run with two outs in the sixth, White stepped to the plate and gave HSU new life with a monster home run well over the left field fence. The solo blast tied it up for Henderson and the contest moved into extra innings following a scoreless seventh.

With the international tie-breaker rules coming into play in the eighth, it was Delta State who struck first. The Lady Statesmen used a double to plate the go-ahead run, but were unable to take advantage of a bases loaded situation with just one out, as Beasley got a strikeout and fly out to end the frame.

Again down by a run, the Reddies struck back quickly, as Reese ripped a double down the right field line to score Alyssa Dixon and tie the game. After a misplayed fielder's choice and an error allowed HSU to advance Reese and Kaitlyn O'Quinn to second and third, it was Moore who cashed in the win for Henderson. With two strikes against her, Moore floated a base hit into the corner in deep right field to bring home Reese and win it for HSU in walk-off fashion.

GAME TWO: Delta State 5, Henderson State 3
An early lead in the second game of the doubleheader did not hold up for the Reddies, as Delta State used a big fifth inning to rally, defeat HSU 5-3 and split the two games at Dee White Field.

Five Reddies finished with hits, including Moore and Reese, who each had an RBI as well. Becca Almond took the loss in the circle after pitching five innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. Freshman Krystal Lindsey pitched a strong last two frames for HSU and gave up no hits and just one walk with two strikeouts. 

Henderson opened up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a single and three-base error from O'Quinn and a solo home run from Moore. The two sides traded runs in the second frame which allowed the Reddies to maintain their two-run advantage.

DSU got a run back on an RBI single in the fourth, but truly turned the tide in the fifth. The Lady Statesmen plated three runs in the inning off of two home runs from Summer Cryder and Olivia Burns. The two jacks helped Delta State seize a 5-3 lead after trailing for much of the contest.

The Reddies went down in order in the fifth and stranded a runner after a single from Brooke Arnold in the sixth inning. Down to its final three outs, Henderson came up wanting, and went down 1-2-3 to end the game.