ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State trailed Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, and a two-run home run by Macy Hoskins would cut UAM's lead to one, but the Blossom closed the door on the rally to hold on and win 3-2.
 
Meagan Allen fell to 4-6 on the year in the circle, pitching 4.2 frames and surrendering three runs on four hits. Erika Bittinger came in for the final 2.1 innings, giving up zero runs and hits in seven at-bats. The Reddies and Blossoms were even in hits with four each, while UAM committed the game's only error.
 
The Reddies had a chance to strike first in the bottom of the first frame with McMahan on third with two outs. The left-fielder reached first safely on a single and would steal second and then advance to third on a throwing error by UAM's catcher. The Blossoms eventually got the final out to keep McMahan from advancing further.
 
In the top of the second, one hit from the UAM bats gave the Arkansas-Monticello a 2-0 lead with a two-run blast following a leadoff walk. Henderson's second baserunner of the game came in the next inning when Jay Albiter led the frame off with a double to left center. The Blossom's pitching tightened up after giving up the double, striking out the next two batters and working a ground out to strand Albiter at second.
 
Arkansas-Monticello added to its lead in the top of the fifth with a single up the middle to plate a runner from second and stretch its edge to 3-0.  
 
Down to their final three outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Reddies got a leadoff single from Justine Burch, who would score two batters later, as Hoskins sent the ball over the center-field wall on a two-run home run to cut UAM's advantage to 3-2. HSU's rally would end there, as Arkansas-Monticello got the two final outs of the game to hold onto a 3-2 win in game one of the weekend series.

Henderson (16-23, 7-14 GAC) will look to even the series in game one of tomorrow's doubleheader, starting at 12 p.m. from Dee White Field.