Reddies complete four-game home GAC sweep of UAM

ARKADELPHIA — In front of one of the largest crowds in the history of Dee White Field, Henderson State got a big rally in game one and a convincing victory in game two Saturday to sweep Arkansas-Monticello in the teams’ Great American Conference series.

Henderson (22-13, 14-10) erased a six-run, first-inning deficit by scoring eight unanswered to defeat Monticello (4-29, 4-18), 8-6, and claim the outright series win in the first game Saturday.

The Blossoms used six hits to score six runs in the top of the first. Henderson got the first run back in the second, when Alexia Lopez launched her second home run of the series out to right center to make it 6-1. The Reddies used a double from Bethany Allen and Christianna Camp’s second home run of the series to plate two more and cut the deficit to 6-3 in the third inning.

In the fourth inning, Henderson used four hits, as well as two Monticello errors, to score five runs and seize an 8-6 advantage. Sam Smith’s RBI single scored Lindsey Williams. Madie Green followed with an RBI single of her own to plate Alexis Morton and make it 6-5.

With Green on first base and Ashleigh Erb standing on third base, the Reddies implemented the double steal. Erb scored the game-tying run as Green went for second.

An error kept the inning alive when Camp reached after the Blossoms’ first baseman dropped the ball on the throw, which brought Lopez to the plate. Lopez hit an RBI single to right center to score Green and give Henderson its first lead, 7-6. The Reddies got their final run of the inning when

Camp scored on an error by the shortstop.

Monticello got runners on base in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but could not score as Mallory Brewer shut down the Blossoms to close it out for the Reddies.

Brewer (2-0) relieved the Reddies’ starter in the first inning and pitched seven full innings, allowing just two runs in the first. Lopez finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while both Kailey Reese and Williams had two hits.

Monticello got on the board first again in the second game, but Henderson scored seven straight to win, 7-1.

The Reddies got an RBI walk from Lopez and a scored again on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to take a 2-1 lea in the first inning. Henderson added two more in the second inning as Lopez hit a single to score Camp and Allen.

Lopez hit a home run in the fifth inning and drove in Green with a sacrifice fly sixth inning. Camp scored again on a sacrifice fly by Williams.

Sydney Bonner entered for starter Becca Almond (4-1) in the third inning. Bonner retired the final 12 batters in order.

Green hit her seventh home run of the season in the series opener on Friday and Lopez drove in three runs as Henderson rolled, 4-0.

Green opened the scoring with her solo home run in the bottom of the third inning. Reese reached on a fielder’s choice two batters later. Lopez hit an RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead to 2-0.

An error by the Monticello pitcher in the fifth inning helped Henderson get two on base for Lopez. A single to right field plated both runners for a 4-0 lead.

Monticello stranded seven runners in the game and could only muster one baserunner in the final three innings. Bonner (7-6) sat down the final five batters in order. She pitched seven full innings and allowed no runs on six hits.

Henderson won, 6-4, in Friday’s late game. The Reddies scored six runs in the second inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Camp.

Alexis Morton was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second inning with the Reddies trailing 2-0. The free base brought in a run and Erb to the plate. Head coach Beth Jackson opted to call on Camp to pitch hit.

The sophomore hit a grand slam over the center field wall. It was her first home run and grand slam of her Henderson career.

Williams later scored on a double steal to give Henderson a 6-2 lead.

Monticello cut into the lead with two runs in the third inning, but the Henderson bullpen kept the Blossoms silent for the remainder of the game. Cayleigh Guthrie and Brewer gave Rhine five scoreless innings of relief.

Henderson is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday with a Battle of the Ravine doubleheader against Ouachita Baptist (13-18, 9-15) beginning at 4 p.m.