ENID, Okla. — Henderson State took advantage of hits up and down the lineup and survived multiple early inning jams to defeat Arkansas-Monticello in a back and forth, high scoring affair in the opening round of the GAC Tournament 8-7.. The Reddies (29-20) scored two runs in both the second and third innings to open up the lead and survived multiple comebacks by the power hitting Weevils. 

Louis Holt got the offense started in the top of the second inning with a two RBI triple to open up the scoring. Nate Moore and Cal Jones answered in the third inning with back-to-back run scoring singles. 

UAM hit themselves back into the game in the fourth on a two-run home run by Camden Tanner, but both teams went the entirety of innings five and six putting zeros on the scoreboard. Neither team could muster any offense, thanks in part to an excellent two innings from Tyler Bates, which included four strikeouts.  

In the seventh, after chasing UAM's starter, the Reddies worked two walks before Cal Jones drove an 0-2 fastball into the right-centerfield bleachers for just his third home run of the season, but the three run blast opened the Reddie lead to four runs. However, the Weevils answered with four runs of their own with a grand slam by Justin Santoyo. 

The eighth inning was another quiet inning before the Reddies regained the lead in the top of the ninth after a sacrifice fly by Luke Farrar scored Dylan Moore, but HSU stranded two men in scoring position, two of the twelve men left on base by the Reddies. After giving up the game tying grand slam, Peyton Byrd retired the next eight batters he faced, working a perfect eighth and ninth inning to earn the win.  

Tonight's win marked career victory number 400 for Reddie manager Cody Hooten in his 15th season. Hooten is already the leader in victories among all Reddie baseball coaches. 

The Reddies now advance to the semifinals of their GAC Tournament pod, and will play Southern Arkansas at 8:00 on Friday, May 2nd.