ALVA, Okla. — Northwestern Oklahoma State plated six runs in the eighth inning on Friday night to break open a close game and run away from Henderson State 9-3 in the series opener for both teams.

Kaden Argenbright and Greyson Stevens each had two hits to lead the Reddies offensively in defeat. Alec Lewis had a double in the ninth inning to drive in two of HSU's three runs.

Henderson struck first and went in front 1-0 on an RBI double from Argenbright in the third. NWOSU responded with two runs in the fourth frame and one in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.

After scoreless sixth and seventh innings for both teams, things unraveled for the Reddies in the eighth. Three HSU errors, as well as a walk and a hit batter, allowed the Rangers to hang six runs in the bottom half of the inning and open up an insurmountable 9-1 lead. 

Austin Cross got the loss on the mound for Henderson after pitching six innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Cross struck out four batters and walked four batters on the night.

The Reddies stranded 10 baserunners in the loss and left the bases loaded in both the second and fourth. Four of Northwestern's six runs in the eighth inning were unearned.

HSU will look to bounce back tomorrow at 1 p.m. when it faces NWOSU in a series-deciding doubleheader.