ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State splits Friday's doubleheader with Southwestern Oklahoma State to force a pivotal series finale with a spot at the GAC Tournament on the line. HSU and SWOSU will conclude the series tomorrow at noon from Dee White Field.

SWOSU took game one 4-1 before the HSU (21-19, 12-20 GAC) roared back in the second contest, winning 9-2. The Reddies recorded 14 hits across the two games, including 12 in the second game of the day. Brooke Johnson fell to 4-6 on the year in the circle, while in game two, Meagan Allen improved to 5-8, and Makenna Keeton recorded her first save of the season. 
 
Four Reddies saw a two-hit game in the second contest, including a perfect day at the plate for Mackenzie Williams, who finished 2-2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Justine Burch notched two hits and an RBI, while Hilary Akers and Macy Hoskins combined for four hits and four runs batted in.
 
GAME ONE: SWOSU 4, HSU 1
Henderson and Southwestern Oklahoma State traded runs in the opening two frames and were tied 1-1 heading into the third. The Bulldogs struck first in the top of inning one on an RBI ground out, but the Reddies quickly replied in the second with a solo home run by Katelyn McMahan.
 
After being held scoreless in the second, SWOSU added another two runs in the top of the third to push ahead 3-1. Despite being held to just one hit in the first four innings, the Reddies had runners reach thanks to five walks by SWOSU across four frames, including three in the bottom of the first to load the bases, but the Bulldogs were able to work out of the mess.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma State plated one final run in the fifth to make 4-1 before retiring the side in the seventh to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
 
GAME TWO: HSU 9, SWOSU 2
Both starting pitchers made quick work in the first two frames, with only one baserunner reaching safely from either side. In the bottom of the third, the first run would cross home, as the Reddies struck first with a single up the middle by Hoskins, scoring Williams to give HSU a 1-0 edge.
 
SWOSU was quick to respond with two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead, but Henderson followed with a three-run frame in the bottom half to stay ahead 4-2.
 
HSU had the bases loaded after two straight singles to begin the inning and, later, a walk by Jay Albiter. A base hit by Williams scored the first run before Jorika Alvarez brought home two more runs with a single to center field.
 
HSU added another run in the following frame on a double steal play where Burch would score to make it 5-2. The Reddies remained hot at the plate in the sixth, adding four more runs to make it 9-2. A single by Hoskins scored the first run before back-to-back doubles by Akers, and Burch plated the next two runs.