Local standouts key Reddies in victory

BETHANY, Okla. - Henderson State survived a late rally by Southern Nazarene, as the Reddies beat the Crimson Storm 10-8 to begin Great American Conference play Friday.

Former Smackover standout Jackson Martin drove in four runs and scored twice for the Reddies, while former Parkers Chapel standout Taylor Langston scored twice and finished 1-for-3 with two walks.

The Reddies banged out a season-high 10 hits and got another big pitching performance from Bryant Haralson, but SNU rallied late, scoring a pair of runs in the eighth, six more in the ninth and even had the tying run at the plate.

Henderson State, 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the GAC, got on the board first, scoring two runs in the second inning.

Langston started things with a single up the middle that was followed by Martin being hit by a pitch.

The Reddies loaded the bases on a bunt single by Dylan McCain with Brentten Schwaab driving in the first run when he singled through the left side to score Langston.

Brandon Pollock drove in the second run by receiving a bases-loaded walk.

Henderson State extended its lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning with the help of a double by Jordan Harris and a run-scoring double by Schwaab.

The Reddies manufactured two more runs in the following frame, benefitting from three walks, a wild pitch and a single by McCain.

Martin belted a three-run triple in the eighth inning, driving in Zack Gray, Harris and Langston, who got on via getting hit by a pitch, a single and a walk, respectively.

Southern Nazarene got on the board in the eighth inning, scoring a pair of runs off of Reddie reliever Logan DeRosier.

The Crimson Storm put together a big ninth inning, as three SNU batters were hit by pitches, one reached by a walk, another on an error with the big hit being Joe Toilolo's two-run double to make the score 10-8.

SNU had a runner on third with the tying run at the plate when Harris relieved Joseph Shepherd to get the final out of the game.

Haralson pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight batters while scattering four hits to pick up the win and improve to 2-0.

Harris was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored, while Schwaab was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs batted in. McCain also had a multiple-hit day going 2-for-5.

The two teams will complete the three-game GAC series with a double-header this afternoon with the first pitch set for noon.