ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henderson State used five unanswered runs Tuesday evening to defeat Ouachita Baptist, 5-2, and stay in the mix for the end-of-year GAC Tournament, using the win to stay a couple games ahead of Southwestern and sit half a game above ninth-place East Central.
Savannah Carrigan (4-8) pitched her third complete game of the season, giving up eight hits while only allowing two runs.
Brooke Johnson led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3, one of which was a solo homerun, and two RBIs.
Play did not start out in the Reddies' favor, with Carrigan loading the bases in both the top of the first and third. The Henderson defense stood tough, however, with two sacrifice flies being all the Tigers could muster as HSU remained within striking distance going into the bottom of the third.
With the pair of major threats behind it, Henderson began its climb in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with a center-field bomb off the bat of
Brooke Johnson to put the Reddies on the board, 2-1. After Carrigan retired the next three Tiger batters in order, a double steal with two outs courtesy of
Bre Jones and
Justine Burch tied things up at two apiece in the fifth.
With minimal damage again delivered from the visiting dugout in the top of the sixth, HSU broke through for good. Beginning with a lead-off double from
Miyah Jackson, Johnson's second hit of the contest gave the HSU the lead for the first time of the game, scoring Jackson before a wild pitch and an
Ashlyn Taylor single scored two more runs to put the Reddies ahead comfortably, 5-2.
Two straight singles without a single out to start off the final at-bat for OBU had the Reddie faithful sweating a bit, but a foul-out to the catcher followed by a fly ball to right eased any worries as a final pop-up to shortstop put the finishing touches on the final Battle of the Ravine of the season, 5-2.
Henderson St. (11-29, 8-13) will head to Russellville, Arkansas, to face Arkansas Tech in a three-game weekend series, with the first game being played Friday, April 8 at 5 p.m. before a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
