WEATHERFORD, Okla. -- Henderson State rebounded from a 19-9 loss in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday with Southwestern Oklahoma State to beat the Bulldogs, 9-4, in the final game to win the three-game Great American Conference series.
It was the sixth series win of the year for Henderson (26-14, 19-8) with two series remaining in the regular season.
Head coach Cody Hooten picked up his 205th victory as skipper of the Reddies. He is now tied with Clyde Berry for the most wins in program history.
The high-scoring series opened Friday as Henderson took a 19-11 slugfest. The Reddies entered the weekend in a tie for second place in the conference with Southern Arkansas (25-11, 17-7). The Muleriders' weekend series at Harding (20-19, 11-13) was postponed to Sunday and today.
Henderson got on the board early in the series finale with three runs in the first inning. Senior first baseman Zack Gray hit a two-run home run to open the scoring.
The inning continued with two outs as senior designated hitter Dylan McCain singled to right field and advanced to third base on a fielding error. McCain scored on a double down the left field line by freshman center fielder Bryson Haskins.
The Reddies worked with two outs again in the third inning as McCain tripled to right-center field. Haskins was then walked and stole second. Junior shortstop Brandon Pollock plated both runners with a double to right field to increase the lead to 5-0.
McCain came through again in the fourth inning with two outs. Gray got on base with a single and advanced to second on a base-hit to right field by senior second baseman Nolan Ryan. McCain plated gray with a single of his own for a 6-0 lead.
Henderson added three more runs in the fifth as Pollock led off with a single up the middle. Junior right fielder Joseph Shepherd followed with a two-run home run.
The Reddies loaded the bases in the inning with a single by Myers, a walk issued to Gray and another single by Ryan. McCain added an RBI when he earned a walk as Henderson took a 9-0 lead.
Junior Zach Eschberger (6-3) worked six innings, surrendering just two hits and tying his career high with 10 strikeouts.
McCain led the Reddie offense going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Gray was 2-for-4 with a home run and Pollock hit 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The Bulldogs (21-17, 15-10) scored 16 runs in the first three innings of the first game Saturday to pick up their lone win of the weekend.
Despite the loss Henderson totaled 13 hits with redshirt freshman left fielder Caleb Carr and Ryan having three hits each. Gray, McCain and Pollock each had two hits.
Carr had three runs batted in to go along with a triple in the contest. McCain and Gray each had home runs with Gray driving in three runs.
The Reddies are scheduled to return home Friday to play host to Northwestern Oklahoma State (20-22, 12-15) for a three-game GAC series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Clyde Berry Field.
Sports on 04/16/2018