BETHANY, Okla.- The Henderson State softball team falls to Southern Nazarene 9-1 in the opening game of the three-game GAC series at Tere Webber Field. The Reddies will look to force a rubber match in Saturday's doubleheader, with game one set to start at 12 p.m.
 
Kaitlyn O'Quinn and Josie Golden led the team at the plate with two hits apiece and combined for four of the team's five hits. Jorika Alvarez went one for one at the dish and batted in HSU's only run of the game.
 
Brooke Johnson started the first 1.2 innings and allowed six runs on four hits before Meagan Allen came in for relief and got the final out in the second. Katelyn McMahan had the longest outing, pitching 2.1 frames, and gave up five hits and two runs.
 
The Crimson Storm raced out to a 7-0 lead in the opening two innings. The Reddies threatened in the first with runners on second and third with no outs after Abbie Moore and O'Quinn reached on an error and hit, respectively. SNU worked out of the jam, retiring the side to avoid any damage.
 
In the top of the fourth, Alvarez put HSU on the scoreboard with an RBI single to center field to score the designated player Brooke Johnson. Johnson began the inning with a lead-off walk, followed by Golden's second hit of the game to put runners on first and second with one out. Alvarez pinch hit for Jay Albiter and singled to center field to score Johnson from second, 7-1.
 
Southern Nazarene added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to extend its advantage to 9-1.