ARKADELPHIA -- Cody Hooten became the winningest coach in Henderson State baseball history Friday as the Reddies beat Northwestern Oklahoma State, 11-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at Clyde Berry Field.
In his eighth season at Henderson (27-16, 20-10 Great American Conference), Hooten picked up his 206th win as the Reddie skipper surpassed former coach Clyde Berry.
Northwestern (22-24, 14-16) rebounded to win the nightcap, 3-2, in 10 innings. The Rangers took the finale and the series, 2-1, on Saturday.
For the fifth consecutive game, the Reddies pounded out double-digit hits to open the series. Henderson had 15 total hits in the game, including seven doubles.
The Reddies scored their first run in the second inning as senior second baseman Nolan Ryan hit a double to left-center field. He scored on an RBI single by senior designated hitter Dylan McCain.
Henderson added three runs in the third frame after freshman center fielder Bryson Haskins led off the innings with a single. Redshirt freshman left fielder Caleb Carr and sophomore third baseman Joe Myers hit back-to-back doubles at the top of the lineup to make the score 3-0. Myers scored when McCain reached base on a fielder's choice as Henderson took a 4-0 lead.
Junior shortstop started things off in the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to right field. Junior right fielder Joseph Shepherd then reached base on a bunt single and Pollock scored on a double by Haskins. The Reddies picked up two more runs on a Ranger error and a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Zack Gray to make the score 7-0.
The lead increased to 8-0 in the fifth as McCain doubled and scored on a single up the middle by Pollock.
Northwestern scored its only run of the game on a solo home run by Judah Zickafoose in the sixth inning.
The Reddies added two runs in the seventh inning as Ryan again started off with a double to right-center field. The Reddies loaded the bases with a pair of walks. Haskins drove in senior catcher Brentten Schwaab and Ryan with a single up the middle.
Ryan scored again for Henderson in the eighth inning with the help of a hit batter and three walks to end the game by virtue of the 10-run rule.
Haskins and Pollock led the Reddie offense having three hits each with Haskins having a double and three RBIs. Pollock was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and a pair of RBIs.
Ryan was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three runs scored. McCain also had two hits with a double and two RBIs, with Shepherd going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Bryant Haralson (8-2, 3.90 ERA) went the distance for the Reddies on the mound, striking out eight batters.
Northwestern led 2-0 before the Reddies scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Henderson loaded the bases with two outs with the help of three walks. A double by redshirt sophomore Daniel Colasanto down the left field line scored Pollock and Gray to tie the game at 2-2.
The Rangers finally broke the deadlock again in the 10th inning with a run in the top half of the frame. Reliever Tyler Bernhardt (1-1) struck out 10 Reddies in the final 4 1/3 innings without allowing a hit.
Junior Zach Eschberger pitched 6-plus innings, allowing four hits while striking out two batters in a no decision. Taylor Langston (2-2) pitched four innings and struck out four batters.
Henderson managed just four hits on Saturday as the Reddies fell, 2-1, in the series finale. The team's only run came in the first inning
Carr led off for Henderson with a single and advanced to second on a walk by Myers. Carr put Henderson ahead, 1-0, on a single up the middle by Gray. The Reddies had runners on second and third base with one out, but Ranger starting pitcher Baron Phillips struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Phillips beaned Pollock and Haskins in the second inning. The Reddies had runners on the corners with one out before relief pitcher Matthew Bickford (3-1) forced Carr to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Reddie starting pitcher Daniel Sprinkle (3-4) retired the first 12 batters he faced and pitched six scoreless innings before Johnnuelle Ponce led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to center field to tie the score at 1-1.
The Rangers put together three more hits in the frame, adding another run to go on top, 2-1, and chase Sprinkle. Bickford held the Reddies in check, retiring nine straight batters before surrendering a two-out single to Carr in the fifth inning.
Henderson put together its only threat in the seventh inning as Schwaab led off with an infield single and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Pollock. Colasanto walked to put runners on first and second with one out before Haskins hit a shot to third that forced out Schwaab. Bickford got out of the inning forcing Carr to foul out to third base.
Bickford retire the Reddies in order in the next two innings to pick up the win.
Henderson's Brayden Beebe pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and did not allow a hit while striking out three Ranger batters.
The Reddies are scheduled to host GAC leader Arkansas-Monticello (29-13, 22-6) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a non-conference contest.
Sports on 04/22/2018