By COURTLIN HAYGARTH | HSU Sports Network

DURANT, Okla. — Henry Coppens entered the series-opening game against Southeastern Oklahoma State with an 11-9 lead and finished his three-inning outing with an 11-10 victory for Henderson State as Coppens claimed his second save of the season.

The Reddies threw three pitchers against the Savage Storm Friday night, with starting pitcher Ryan Galvan improving his record to 4-0. After Owen Vanthillo relieved Galvan for an inning, giving up just one run, Coppens worked three full innings and threw four strikeouts to save the win for HSU.

Six Reddies recorded multiple hits in the contest, led by Luke Rice with three hits. Logan Cowart gave Henderson its two home runs – his first of the season – as the shortstop sent two over the wall for four RBIs.

With the Savage Storm taking an 8-5 lead after play had already seen two lead changes, Henderson took the lead for good in the sixth. After Luke Rice and Dillon Thomas led off the frame with a pair of singles, Kaden Argenbright and Charles Hoof got the big inning going with consecutive doubles to tie things up at 8-8. 

Cowart broke the tie with his second homer of the day, scoring Hoof for the 10-8 lead before Rice’s second single of the inning established an 11-8 advantage. After Vanthillo came onto the mound in the sixth before SE closed the game to two, Coppens offered some final relief for the Reddies in the seventh.

Coppens sat the Savage Storm down in order in the seventh before a Southeastern home run in the eighth brought the score to 11-10. After HSU was unable to add any insurance runs, Coppens and the Reddie defense claimed the victory for the red and gray.

After a hit-by-pitch put the tying run at first, back-to-back heads up plays from the Henderson defense got consecutive SE runners out at second before a flyout to center put the game on ice as HSU took the game-one victory.