JACKSON, Tenn. – On Tuesday afternoon, the Union University softball team played a midweek doubleheader with Henderson State University. The Lady Bulldogs lost game one 3-2 in eight innings and game two 5-0 in seven. Union is now 2-12 overall, while Henderson State improves to 11-2 overall.
Game one was a pitchers’ duel for five innings between Riley Vaughn and Makenna Keeton with each team only recording one hit in those innings. However, In the bottom of the sixth, Union’s offense started to come alive. Hailey Sipes singled, and two batters later, Brooke Puckett doubled, driving in Sipes and giving the Lady Bulldogs the lead. Then the Reddies capitalized on three Union errors in the seventh to score a run of their own. Union was unable to score in their half of the seventh, which forced an eighth inning. Henderson State added two runs in the eighth, and Union started a rally in the bottom of the inning but were able to plate only one run, resulting in 3-2 win for the Reddies.
Vaughn took the loss but had a very good outing overall, striking out 11 Reddies and allowing only three walks. Puckett was 2-4 with two RBIs, the only two runs of the day for Union.
Game two was all Henderson State as the Reddies scored one in the first, one in the fourth, and three in the fifth, and held Union scoreless, outhitting the Lady Bulldogs 10-4. Kira Finkley got the loss, pitching 4.1 innings and striking out two before giving way to Emily Claire Felder. Felder held Henderson State scoreless in her 2.2 innings of work, and she also struck out four hitters. Puckett led the Union offense in the game, going 2-4. Overall, she was 4-7 on the day which accounted for four of Union’s eight total hits.
Up next, the Lady Bulldogs will face GSC opponent Mississippi College in a three-game series at home. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Mar. 1 at 1:00 p.m. with game two to follow.
