ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State walked it off for the second day in a row on Monday afternoon as Alec Lewis came up with a bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Reddies a 5-4 win over No. 24 Delta State.

Lewis, the Arkadelphia native and hero in HSU's third victory of the year, was one of five Reddies with two hits, joining Kaden Argenbright, Luke Farrar, Bryson Haskins and Colton Patterson. Farrar had two RBIs while Patterson scored three runs, including the game-winner.

In his first action since the 2020 season, senior Blake Pennington earned the first win of his career on the mound after pitching the last 1.2 innings for Henderson. Pennington struck out four batters and surrendered one earned run.

Newcomer Ryan Galvan gave HSU a quality start in his first appearance in the red and gray. Galvan went 4.1 innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits. Both Ethan Roark and Cole Oswald both saw the first action of their careers at Henderson in relief.

The Reddies led 2-0 through three innings thanks to an RBI triple from Pate Fullerton and an RBI single from Farrar. Delta State was able to tie the game in the fifth and sixth when a groundout and a sac fly brought in two runs, but the tie game was short-lived.

Henderson regained control quickly in the bottom half of the seventh. Patterson singled to lead off the inning and after Argenbright was hit by a pitch, a wild one allowed both runners to move into scoring position. 

Another mistake by the Statesmen brought the first run home on a passed ball and gave HSU a 3-2 lead. The second run came on a stroke of luck, as Farrar was credited an RBI triple on a ball that Delta State's right fielder misplayed in shallow right. The dropped ball allowed Argenbright to score and gave the Reddies a 4-2 lead.

DSU threatened in the eighth, but Pennington came away with a strikeout and ground out which left the bases loaded for the Statesmen and kept Henderson's lead intact. The Reddies could not escape damage in the ninth, however. Down to its last strike, Delta State got an RBI single and an error in the outfield which brought home two runs and tied the score 4-4 in the blink of an eye.

After Pennington again left two runners stranded in scoring position with a strikeout, Henderson went to work in the bottom of the ninth. Patterson drew a walk to lead it off and then stole second with two outs to put himself in scoring position. Stevens was subsequently walked and Cade Tucker was hit by a pitch to load the bases and set the scene for Lewis to win it. The big lefty batter did not waste any time, and drove the first pitch he saw into left field to set off a celebration for the second-straight day at Clyde Berry Field.

Henderson finished 3-0 at the inaugural Dugan Invitational and both Spencer Taack and Fullerton were named to the All-Tournament Team on Monday evening.

The Reddies return to action at home on Thursday at 6 p.m. when they host St. Cloud State in Arkadelphia.