WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Henderson State scrapped and clawed against No. 1 seed Central Missouri on Friday afternoon, but was held in check offensively by UCM and fell 2-1 in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA DII Central Regional.

With the loss, HSU drops into the losers bracket at the double-elimination tournament and will face the loser of the Augustana and Southern Arkansas matchup at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning in an elimination game. 

The Reddies (26-18) were limited to four hits in the contest, and three in the first seven innings, by UCM starter Mason Green. Green, an All-American who is now 25-0 in his career for the Mules, pitched seven full innings and surrendered no runs while striking out seven.

Central Missouri, the host team and No. 2 ranked club in the country in the latest NCBWA rankings, scored two runs on two RBI singles in the fourth and fifth to go in front 2-0, but missed multiple opportunities for big innings thanks to terrific defensive play by HSU. The Reddies turned three double plays and a triple play to eliminate the Mules' threats time and time again.

After struggling at the plate for most of the game, Henderson's hopes were kept alive in the eighth when Danny Mitchell Jr. launched a solo home run off of UCM reliever Chase Plymell to cut the deficit to 2-1. The home run was the first allowed by Plymell all season.

A UCM error in the top of the ninth put the tying run on base for the Reddies with two outs, but a strikeout ended it for the Mules, who escaped with the win.

HSU's pitching was tremendous in defeat and held Central Missouri to two runs — its lowest offensive output of the season — on eight hits. Starter Spencer Taack took the loss but allowed just two runs in four-plus innings. Brayden Bebee and Cade Tucker were both excellent in relief and combined to put up four no-hit frames against one of the best offenses in the country.

Henderson had opportunities throughout despite recording only four hits. The Reddies stranded seven baserunners in the loss and left a runner on third base in both the fourth and the sixth innings.