Reddies come up short at UAM

MONTICELLO — Henderson State dropped both games in a doubleheader Saturday to No. 17 Arkansas-Monticello, which seized control of the Great American Conference standings.

The Reddies (20-12, 15-6) beat the Boll Weevils

(23-8, 17-4), 12-10, in the series opener on Friday and held a lead in Saturday’s first game before Monticello scored two runs in the eighth inning for the win.

Henderson entered the weekend in second place behind Monticello. Southern Arkansas

(22-9, 16-5) moved ahead into second place over the weekend with a three-game home sweep of Ouachita Baptist (10-24, 6-15).

The Reddies took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the first game on Saturday. Joe Myers hit a tworun single to left field to drive home Caleb Carr, who walked, and Jordan Harris, who reached base on an error.

Zack Gray extended Henderson’s lead to 3-0 in the top half of the second when he led off with his team-leading sixth home run of the season.

Monticello responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to tie the score at 3-3, but the Reddies regained the lead in the fifth inning to go on top, 4-3. Gray reached base with a walk to begin the inning and advanced to second and third on two wild pitches. Nolan Ryan plated Gray with a sacrifice fly to center field to put Henderson.

Starting pitcher Daniel Sprinkle began the eighth inning and gave up a single to Sean Wagner. Kris Priddy (4-2) relieved Sprinkle, but Monticello’s Drake Rowton delivered a two-run single to put the Weevils on top for good.

In the series finale, Monticello built a 7-0 advantage through two innings of play. The Reddies battled back, scoring four runs in the fourth inning.

Harris began the inning by reaching on an error, with Gray following with a double to center field. Brentten Schwaab put Henderson on the board with a three-run home run.

Ryan continued the inning when he singled to right field, advancing Brandon Pollock to second after he was hit by a pitch earlier. Pollock scored when Daniel Colasanto doubled to right field. Ryan and Colasanto were stranded as Peyton Sullivan struck out the next two Reddie batters.

Henderson had runners on base in each of the final three innings, but Monticello reliever Connor Wilkerson was able to get out of each frame without allowing a run to pick up his first save.

Henderson is scheduled to travel to Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday to take on Union University with the first pitch set for 4 p.m.