RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas Tech scored five runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Wednesday night to break open a close game and defeat No. 16 Henderson State 12-6 in a non-conference midweek clash.

The Reddies (19-6) got a big game at the plate from Dillon Thomas, who finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Both Kaden Argenbright and Greyson Stevens added two hits.

Five Henderson pitchers saw action in defeat. Austin Cross, who pitched four innings, was saddled with the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits. Cross struck out four batters and did not issue a walk. Ethan Perry, Ethan Roark, Cole Oswald and Carson Cox all pitched an inning apiece.

The lead changed hands six times on Wednesday, all of which came in the first five innings. After trailing 5-3 after through three frames, the Reddies got going in the fourth and used RBI hits from Stevens and Thomas to plate three runs and surge to a 6-5 advantage.

Tech answered in the bottom half of the fifth when two solo home runs gave ATU a 7-6 lead it never relinquished. A third home run drove in two more for the Wonder Boys in the seventh as they gradually pulled away down the stretch.

ATU compiled 14 hits in the contest and its pitching staff struck out 13 HSU batters. The Reddies left nine runners on base and were limited to two extra base hits.

Henderson returns to GAC play this weekend when it travels to Weatherford, Oklahoma to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State for a single game at 2 p.m. on Friday and a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.