WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The losing streak was pushed to 10 games as the Bulldogs dropped both games in a doubleheader to Henderson State. SWOSU saw a late-game rally come up just short in the first game of the day. In the second game, a five-run explosion in the top of the seventh sealed the Bulldogs' fate.
Game 1: HSU 8, SWOSU 6Box Score The Lady Reddies put eight runs past the Bulldogs before SWOSU scored a run of their own. An early 1-0 lead after the first inning was increased by four runs in the top of the third. Carrying a 5-0 lead into the fourth, HSU tacked on an additional three runs and threatening a run-rule victory.
SWOSU found a response in the bottom of the fourth, earning one run. A double down the right field line by
Ashley Jones brought
Courtney Miller across home plate. The Bulldogs would end the inning facing an 8-1 deficit.
The Bulldogs scored another three runs in the bottom of the six to reduce the lead to 8-4. With
Adrienne Martinez on third,
Samantha Perry reached first on a walk.
Ashley Dunigan then sent a single down the left field line that plated Martinez.
Kendall Smith followed up Dunigan's effort with a single to center field that brought in Perry. A throwing error by HSU's Amy Halter on the play also allowed Perry to score the final run of the inning.
SWOSU put another two runs on the board in the final half-inning. First,
Miranda McDonald hit a groundball to shortstop that brought in
Makensy Payne.
Rileigh Ricken then doubled to centerfield to score Martinez who had reached earlier on a fielding error.
Taylor Eaves got the start in the circle and took her fourth loss of the season. The Bulldogs recorded nine hits in the losing effort, with
Maci Brown leading the way with a 2-2 performance.
Game 2: HSU 8, SWOSU 3Box Score In the second game it was again HSU who took the initiative from the outset, scoring a run each in the first and second innings. However, SWOSU was able to answer with a three-run third to take their first lead of the day.
Ashley Filer started the third inning off for the Bulldogs by reaching on a fielding error. It continued from there as Payne used a bunt to reach first and move Filer to second.
Tori Hawk then walked to fill the bases for Dunigan.
Dunigan hit a single to left field that brought in Filer for the unearned run. It was then Martinez's turn at the plate and she singled to left field as well. Her single was enough to bring in the speedsters Payne and Hawk.
The next two innings were scoreless, but Henderson State was able to tie the game up in the bottom of the sixth. After that, the Lady Reddies put five on the board in the top of the seventh to take the lead back at 8-3. SWOSU was unable to find a response in the final half-inning.
Ricken was saddled with her third loss of the weekend and is now 3-6 on the season. Offensively, both Payne and
Kaity Rash had multi-hit games, going 4-6 combined at the plate.
SWOSU falls to 0-8 in conference play as they suffer consecutive conference series sweeps. The Bulldogs will return to action with a nonconference doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M., on Tuesday. First pitch is at 1 pm.
