Lady Reddies Softball Earns a 5-2 Win Over ATU

Courtesy Henderson State University Athletics Department

Henderson State scored three runs in the sixth-inning to break a 2-2 tie and beat Arkansas Tech 5-2 in Russellville, Ark. The Lady Reddies lost the finale of the series 8-1 which resulted in a split of the four-games this weekend. Henderson State, 11-13 overall and 5-3 in the Great American Conference, opened Sunday’s first game with a pair of runs in the first-inning. Sarah Gipson led things off with a single up the middle. Laura Mabary was then hit by pitch to begin the Lady Reddie threat.

Amber Wilburn plated Gipson with a double to right centerfield for the first run. Katie Hulan got in on the action when she singled down the right field line to score Mabary and put Henderson on top 2-0. Arkansas Tech cut the deficit to a single run in the fourth-inning on a solo home run by Siarra Gomez. After the Golden Suns tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth-inning on a ground out by Gomez, Henderson exploded for three runs in the top of the sixth.

Katie Hulan was hit by a pitch to lead things off and Laura Beth Ray later reached on a fielding error. Henderson State then loaded the bases as Shelbie Palmore was walked. All three runners advanced on a passed ball with the Lady Reddies scoring their first run of the inning.

Gipson grounded out to second to score Ray, then Mabary singled to score Palmore to provide Henderson an insurance run and make the score 5-2. Despite giving up eight hits, Kayla Williams struck out four batters and went the distance in the circle to pick up the win and improve to 6-3 on the year. In the finale, Arkansas Tech benefitted from four Lady Reddie errors and took advantage of four walks scoring five unearned runs to win 8-1.

HSU outhit ATU in the game having 10 hits compared to just 6 for the Golden Suns. Henderson’s lone run was a solo home run by Wilburn. Mabary led HSU going 3-for-4 in the game. Williams ended the weekend series going 7-for-13 at the plate, while Mabary was 7-for-14.

Henderson State will next play host to Southeastern Oklahoma in a four-game GAC series beginning Friday at 11 a.m. at Dee White Field in Arkadelphia.