PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Reddies got a taste of NCAA Division I competition on Tuesday afternoon and came away with a nice souvenir: a win.
Henderson State (16-15, 5-12 GAC) claimed a decisive 6-3 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8-19, 3-6 GAC) at the Torii Hunter Complex in game two of the midweek doubleheader between the two teams.
HSU struck first in the first inning when
Josie Copeland delivered a clutch RBI single to right field, bringing
Justine Burch home for the game's opening run.
The Reddies kept the momentum going in the fifth, scoring four runs as Burch added another RBI single before
Mackenzie Williams drove in a run with a single scoring Copeland, extending the lead to 4-0.
HSU added two more runs in the sixth inning with a pair SAC fly's, one from Akers and one from
Macy Hoskins.
UAPB made a late push, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth and one run in the bottom of the seventh. However, Henderson's bullpen held strong, closing out the game without allowing further damage.
Jersey Cabana (7-2) earned the win for the Reddies, pitching 5.1 innings while allowing just one earned run on seven hits.
Presley Applegate came on in relief, throwing 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit, one run (unearned).
Henderson State dropped the first contest of the doubleheader 8-4 to the Golden Lions after falling behind 7-0 early. The Reddies put together a strong offensive showing with 10 hits in the game.
The Reddies return to GAC play on Friday at 4 p.m. versus Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Arkansas in the first game of the three-game GAC weekend series.
