ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Delta State dropped a non-conference road contest to Henderson State, 10-2, Tuesday evening at Clyde Berry Field.
The Statesmen (11-5, 7-2 GSC) were limited to five hits on the night, while Henderson State (9-7, 2-7 GAC) capitalized on key scoring opportunities to pull away late.
Henderson State struck first in the bottom of the opening frame, using a ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.
Delta State answered in the fourth inning.
Cade Greer ignited the rally with a triple to right-center field and later scored on an RBI single by
Bo Rock to even the score at 1-1.
The Reddies regained the lead in the fifth on an RBI triple from Tanner Ross, then broke the game open in the sixth. Henderson State plated four runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run double down the right-field line from Grant Fitch to extend the advantage to 6-1.
Ross added to the lead with a solo home run to deep center in the seventh, his fourth of the season, pushing the margin to 7-1.
Delta State scratched across a run in the eighth when Greer walked and stole second before coming around to score on an RBI single by
Walker Maranto. The Statesmen threatened further in the frame with two aboard but were unable to cut deeper into the deficit.
Henderson State responded with three runs in the bottom half of the eighth, taking advantage of a pair of Delta State errors and a balk to stretch the lead to 10-2.
Greer led the Statesmen offensively, finishing 1-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Rock and Maranto each drove in a run, while
Tucker Jones added a hit and a stolen base.
On the mound,
Aidan McCrady got the start and worked 4.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit with four strikeouts.
Eli Akins was charged with the loss after surrendering three runs in the fifth inning.
Delta State will look to bounce back as the Statesmen continue their road swing later this week with a three-game conference series with the Bucs from Christian Brothers University at Ferriss Field.
