ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Reddie baseball split its doubleheader with Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon, earning its first GAC win in the process. After falling 11-7 in the first game, Henderson fought back from a five-run deficit on its way to a 9-6 win.
GAME ONE: SEOSU 11, Henderson State 7
Henderson built an early lead but could not overcome a pair of big innings from Southeastern Oklahoma in an 11-7 loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Clyde Berry Field.
The Reddies (5-5, 0-5 GAC) struck first in the second inning. Boe Rodriguez singled and stole second before Cooper McClure followed with an infield hit. Caleb Bryant drove a single to center to score Rodriguez for a 1-0 edge.
Henderson added two more in the fifth. After Bryant reached on an error and Cale Edmonds walked, Nate Moore laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Tripp Campbell delivered with a double down the right-field line, driving in two runs to push the lead to 3-0.
Dawson Goines kept Southeastern in check through five innings, but the sixth turned the game. The Savage Storm plated seven runs on five hits, highlighted by a three-run home run to center from Ryan Kirk and a two-run single from Isaac Villa. The outburst flipped a three-run deficit into a 7-3 advantage.
Southeastern added three more in the seventh and one in the eighth to stretch the margin to 11-3. Villa finished with four RBIs, while Kirk drove in three.
Henderson mounted a response in the eighth. Adam Garcia and Mason Krznarich were hit by pitches to start the inning, and McClure singled to load the bases. Cole McClendon drew a walk to force in a run, and a wild pitch brought home another. Moore then lined a double to left-center to score two more and cut the deficit to 11-7.
The Reddies could not draw closer, as Southeastern's bullpen combined to strike out seven over the final three innings to secure the win.
GAME TWO: Henderson State 9, SEOSU 6
After dropping the opener, Henderson State answered in Game 2 with a decisive rally, defeating Southeastern Oklahoma 9-6 to salvage a split of Saturday's doubleheader at Clyde Berry Field.
The Reddies (6-5, 1-5 GAC) fell behind early when the Savage Storm scored five runs in the second inning, capitalizing on three hits and a Henderson error to take control.
Henderson responded in the bottom half of the inning. Boe Rodriguez tripled to center and scored on a groundout by Cooper McClure to trim the deficit to 5-1.
The game turned in the fourth. Trailing 5-1, the Reddies erupted for eight runs on seven hits. Tripp Campbell sparked the inning with a double, and Tanner Ross followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Rodriguez drove in a run with a single, and McClure added an RBI on a fielder's choice.
Trevor Flake singled home another run before Adam Garcia, hitting for Ty Graf, delivered a two-run double to give Henderson its first lead. Nate Moore and Campbell each followed with RBI doubles, and Kaden Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cap the eight-run frame and push the advantage to 9-5.
Campbell finished with two doubles and an RBI, while Rodriguez collected two hits, including a triple. Garcia's two-run double proved pivotal in the rally.
On the mound, Jayce Moore earned the win in relief, allowing no runs over 1.1 innings. Rhett Richardson worked the final three innings to record his second save, limiting Southeastern to one run and stranding multiple baserunners.
The Reddies' bullpen combined to hold the Savage Storm to one run over the final five innings, sealing the split after the Game 1 loss earlier in the day.
HSU travels to Fort Smith Tuesday for a midweek matchup with UAFS.
