ARKADELPHIA, Ark.  -  A ninth-inning Broncho rally proved to be the difference in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss for Henderson State at Clyde Berry Field on Friday.

UCO got on the board with a first-inning solo homer and held a one-run advantage until the bottom of the fourth. At that point, the Reddies responded with four runs via a Luke Farrar RBI single, a two-run Dylan Block double, and another RBI two-bagger from Cal Jones. The Bronchos cut into the deficit with runs scored in the sixth and eighth, but HSU held the lead heading into the final inning of play. Central Oklahoma tied the game courtesy of a pinch-hit home run from Brooks Miller before scoring a go-ahead run on an error later in the frame. In the bottom half of the ninth, the Reddies left the tying run on first to cement the final result.

Luke Rice reached base on three different occasions, including two base hits.

In addition to Block and Jones, Jeremy Schork and Alex Galvan each recorded a double.

Cole Rodriguez allowed just one earned run while striking out four in 5.1 innings of work.

Henderson State will look to rebound when it faces No. 17 Augustana on Saturday, February 8, in the third day of the HSU Baseball Invitational at Clyde Berry Field. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m.