JACKSON, Tenn. – Henderson State made its first road trip of the season, picking up two wins, winning 3-2 in eight innings and winning 5-0 in the second game versus Union.
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The Reddies picked up two wins in Jackson, Tenn. on Tuesday improving their record to 11-2.
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Once again the Reddies won games in two different ways. In the first game it took grit to win late over the Bulldogs. The Reddies tied at one a piece in the eighth inning scored two runs to win the game 3-2. In the second game a big fifth inning offensively and dominance in the circle from
Brooke Johnson (3-0) held the Bulldogs in check.
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Meagan Allen stepped into the circle to begin game one. Allen pitched five and two-thirds innings for the Reddies allowing just three hits and one run.
Makenna Keeton (2-1) relieved Allen in the sixth trailing 1-0. Down 1-0 in the seventh the Reddie bats arrived with the help of the Bulldog defense.
Jay Albiter reached on an error and would later score following another error allowing
Josie Golden to reach first base. Keeton pitched in the bottom of the seventh inning to just three batters, forcing two fly outs and striking out the third batter.
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In the top of eighth with
Mackenzie Williams on second
Macy Hoskins flied out to center but Williams advanced. With two outs
Brooke Johnson singled to the shortstop and Williams scored. Albiter came up big again, doubling down the line, scoring Johnson, extending the lead to 3-1.
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The Bulldogs would score once in the eighth, but
Presley Applegate (3) entered for Keeton with two outs and struck out the only batter she faced.
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In the second game of the doubleheader the Reddie batters settled in quickly, scoring in the first and fourth inning.
Justine Burch got the game started with a single and advanced on a ground out to the pitcher and later a wild pitch to advance to third. Burch scored on a wild pitch.
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In the fourth
Makenna Denofrio had her first hit and RBI of the season, scoring the pinch runner
Janasia Jones.
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HSU tacked on three more runs in the fifth inning thanks to Williams scoring
Penelope Foote on a single through the right side. Williams later scored alongside
Hilary Akers after
Josie Copeland singled up the middle. Copeland is batting a scorching hot .429 in 21 plate appearances this season.
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In the circle for the Reddies Johnson continued her dominance. Johnson went five innings, allowing just three hits, striking out five and allowing no runs.
Jersey Cabana finished the game in the circle pitching two innings and allowing zero runs.
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HSU sits atop the GAC standings and holds the longest winning streak for the program since the beginning of the GAC in 2012.
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With the win HSU now has half as many wins as they did a season ago, with 42 games remaining. HSU currently ranks top 20 in the country in win percentage.
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Henderson State will make its first conference road trip of the year on Friday to face Arkansas-Monticello.
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