ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – A walk-off run by
Kaitlyn O'Quinn clinches a series win for Henderson State over Northwestern Oklahoma State in the rubber match 8-0 in five innings.
Savannah Carrigan started in the circle for the Reddies and set the tone early, getting two ground outs and striking out the final batter in the top of the first, and giving up her only hit of the game in the second before retiring the final two batters.
Henderson had two ground outs to start the bottom half of the first but loaded the bases after back-to-back singles and a walk. All three runners would be stranded after a flyout in the infield. The Reddies went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the second to keep the game scoreless heading into the third.
Carrigan went three-up and three-down to start the third, and the HSU loaded the bases for the second time in the bottom half. A slow roller off the bat of
Josie Copeland to the pitcher scored
Justine Burch from third, and the team added another run after a walk by
Kaylin Kauffman to score a second run.
Brooke Johnson pinch hit for
Addison Tidwell and reached on a throwing error by NWOSU's shortstop to score the last run of the inning for HSU, 3-0.
A lead-off walk for
Kaitlyn O'Quinn began another big inning for the Reddies. Burch entered the batter's box and knocked a triple to the right-centerfield wall to score O'Quinn from first.
Abbie Moore followed Burch's triple with a two-run big fly to extend HSU's lead to 6-0. Henderson put runners on second and third, and a passed ball by NWOSU allowed Copeland to reach home safe, 7-0.
The Lady Ranger's batters continued to struggle at the plate against Carrigan, as the Little Rock, Ark. native got two flyouts and catcher Tidwell caught a runner stealing for the third out. O'Quinn got a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth and quickly stole second on the next at-bat. A groundout by Burch advanced the Coppell, Texas native to third and would make it home on a throwing error by the NWOSU catcher to end the game in five innings, 8-0.
Henderson State (8-7) travels to Denton, Texas for its first road game of the season against Texas Women's on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in a doubleheader, beginning at 4 p.m.
