ARKADELPHIA -- Sophomore catcher Christianna Camp had two home runs and Henderson State's pitching staff limited Southwestern Oklahoma State to just two runs in two games Saturday as the Reddies opened the weekend series with a pair of 9-1 wins.
Henderson (26-18, 18-15) had a chance to move into fourth place in the conference ahead of Harding (27-16, 19-14). The Lady Bulldogs (8-32, 8-22) took the second doubleheader on Sunday, 8-1 and 3-2.
The Reddies hit home runs in three straight innings and senior Sydney Bonner (10-9) picked up another win in the series opener on Saturday.
Southwestern got on the board in the top of the first inning when the Lady Bulldogs used three hits to score a run and go up, 1-0. Henderson limited the damage and responded with a bases loaded single from senior Courtney Warren in the bottom half, which scored two runs and put the Reddies in front, 2-1.
The Reddies' bats stayed hot in the second as freshman second baseman Lindsey Williams singled to start things off. The next batter, freshman center fielder Madie Green, got a ball up into the wind blowing out to left field. The wind carried it over the fence to give Green her eighth home run of the year and Henderson a 4-1 lead.
Henderson got its second home run of the day in the third inning, when Camp hit a solo shot out to left-center to extend the lead to 5-1. In the fourth, freshman left fielder Kailey Reese hit a line drive that just stayed fair for a two-run home run over the right field wall.
Senior third baseman Bethany Allen then drew a walk and pinch hitter Selena Lopez hit a line drive on a full count. The Southwestern outfielder misplayed the ball, allowing Allen to score and push the lead to 8-1.
Allen wrapped things up for Henderson in the sixth with a single to score Reese from second base. The score put the run rule into effect to give Henderson the win.
The Reddies racked up nine hits, with both Allen and Reese finishing with two. Green, Reese and Warren all had two RBIs.
After allowing three hits in the first inning, Bonner gave up just three more over the next five innings.
A seven-run fifth inning in the second game Saturday helped Henderson blow open a close game. The Reddies had a 2-1 lead going into the inning.
Junior shortstop Nadia Ballarin started off the fifth with her third home run of the season. Williams scored on a double steal and Allen hit a double to drive in Reese and Green to push the lead to 6-1.
Camp continued her hot streak with a single into left field to score Allen. Another error allowed Camp to score before pinch hitter Kaitlyn Fielder scored Warren on a single for a second run-rule victory.
Freshman Mallory Brewer (4-2) allowed just one run on six hits in five innings.
Henderson got its first run in the second inning when Camp broke a scoreless tie with her second home run of the doubleheader.
Camp and Allen each had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Reddies. Six other players picked up hits.
Henderson went cold on Sunday, finishing 9-for-49, .183, in the second doubleheader of the series.
Southwestern had six extra-base hits and limited the Reddies to just one run in the first game on Sunday. The Lady Bulldogs opened the scoring in the first, but Green answered with her team-leading ninth home run to tie the game at 1-1.
Henderson threatened in the fourth inning, trailing 4-1, but the bases were left loaded. Southwestern made the Reddies pay for not scoring, tacking on four more runs in the next two innings.
The Reddies managed just two hits in the final three innings.
The loss snapped Henderson's nine-game winning streak at Dee White Field.
Southwestern got two runs on a bloop double in the final game Sunday when the team was down to its final strike. The two runs gave the Lady Bulldogs a 3-2 victory.
Henderson went ahead in the sixth innings when Reese doubled to right-center and advanced to third on an error. Reese gave Henderson the lead on a wild pitch.
The Reddies went down in order to end the game.
Reese produced three of the Reddies' four hits in the game with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate. She also scored a run and had the only RBI of the afternoon.
Henderson was doubled-up in the hit column by the Lady Bulldogs for the second-straight game and amassed just five baserunners in the contest.
The Reddies are scheduled for two games at Ouachita Baptist (18-22, 14-19) on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Sully Anderson Field.
Sports on 04/16/2018