ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State saw an early start for day two of the Hawkins-McGhee Memorial Tournament, getting things started with Cameron University at 9 a.m. Unfortunately for the Reddies, Cameron handed HSU its first loss of the day, 7-3, before dropping the latter game to Emporia State, 13-1.
 
Freshman Justine Burch registered two hits on the day and one run, all of which came in the first game. Monica Monreal also saw a pair of RBIs while Lexi Trejo matched Burch was two hits on the morning.
 
Game 1: Cameron 7, Henderson St. 3
For the second straight game, HSU got on the board first off a Cameron error, scoring Savannah Hughes in the bottom of the first to go ahead, 1-0. From within the cicle, Brooke Johnson held the Aggies at bay, allowing only one hit between then and the top of the fourth inning.
 
In CU's fourth at bat, three hits led to a pair of runs as Cameron took over the lead, 2-1. Johnson did close the inning with a strikeout to keep the damage at a minimum. Yet the momentum had already changed hands as the visiting Aggies were able to rattle off three more runs in the top of the fifth after holding HSU to only one hit in the bottom of the fourth.
 
With the score reading 5-1, CU added two insurance runs to make the score 7-1. A Monreal two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth elicited a bit of life to the Reddie dugout, but the damage had been as the HSU, after keeping the Aggies from putting up any more runs in the top of the seventh, was unable to close the gap anymore in its final at bat, falling 7-3.
 
Game 2: Emporia St. 13, Henderson St. 1
Game number two of the morning's doubleheader got away from the Reddies early as Emporia St. put up a quick eight runs in the first inning to seize a commanding lead that it would not relent. The Hornets added five more runs before the Reddies had any kind of response.
 
Facing a 13-0 deficit, Henderson used a pair of ESU errors and an Erika Bittinger single to centerfield to score fellow freshman Johnson, who reached previously on an error, to make the final tally 13-1.
 
Henderson St. (0-4) has one final game as part of the 2022 Hawkins-McGhee Memorial Tournament in what will be rematch against Cameron. The final game of the weekend will take place Monday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. at Dee White Field.