ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henderson State rallied from behind to force extra innings, but a three-run tenth for Delta State struck the final blow as the Reddies fell to the Statesmen Tuesday night, 10-7.
The Reddies threw ten pitchers in the midweek outing as
Mitchell Szczygiel saw the most productive outing, earning a no-decision after pitching four scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and two walks.
Louis Holt's 10-game hitting streak was snapped Tuesday night as
Kaden Argenbright (3-5), true freshman
Jordan Allen (2-3) and
Luke Rice (2-4) led the Reddies at the plate.
After a three-run home run in the top of the second put Delta State ahead by three, HSU was left playing catch-up over the next eight innings. Relief pitcher
Payton Byrd came in to pitch the eighth, recording two strikeouts and a ground-out in his one inning.
The strong showing in limited time from Byrd fueled the offense the Reddies needed. In the bottom of the eighth, with HSU trailing 6-3 after Henderson had failed to score more than two runs in a single frame, the red-and-gray scored three runs on three walks, a hit-by-pitch, two passed balls, one hit and one fielding error.
With the game seeing its first tie, Delta broke the deadlock in the ninth with a single run before
Henry Coppens, who relieved Byrd, worked out of a bases-loaded jam with just one out to head into the bottom of the frame with the one-run deficit.
Following a lead-off single from Rice, a one-out double from Argenbright scored pinch-runner
Alex Galvan to tie the game once again to send play to extra innings. Pitcher Jayse Posey came in as the ninth HSU pitcher, claiming two quick outs before walking Delta's nine-hole hitter, bringing around the top of the lineup.
With HSU within one out of having a chance to walk it off, the Statesmen delivered a double, single and triple in three consecutive at-bats to plate three runs. The Statesmen then worked three-up, three-down to claim the extra-inning victory.
Henderson State (6-6, 2-1 GAC) will remain in Arkadelphia for its GAC home opener against Northwestern Oklahoma State in a Friday doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. followed by the series finale Saturday at 12 p.m.
