PLANO, Texas - Hendrix started their weekend series versus the University of Dallas on a winning note, taking the series opener against the Crusaders on Thursday night in Plano.

Dallas loaded the bases in the second and scored runs off a walk and a hit-by-pitch before Hendrix starter Mason Holmes got a key two-out ground-out to get out of the jam and leave the bases loaded. The Crusaders added another in the third off a two-out double that was sandwiched by a couple Holmes' strikeouts.

Hendrix got on the board in the visitor fifth when Chase Harris tripled to right field before Zane Nolan singled Harris in for the opening run. The Warriors cut the deficit to one in the Hendrix sixth as Ketcham singled in Ryan Lang with two outs after Lang had doubled to left field. Ketcham stole second in the next at-bat to get into scoring position but was left stranded as the side was retired.

On the bump, Aiden Leggett (W, 4-1) entered in relief of Holmes in the fourth and tossed four shutout frames, allowing just two base-runners across his first three innings of work heading into the seventh where Hendrix trailed 3-2. Harris led off the top of the inning with a single then reached second when Nolan bunted him over. Austin Rabago worked a one-out walk to get on first, and Shaun Pope doubled in Harris for the tying run. Hendrix scored the go-ahead run in the next at-bat as Ryne Dodson brought in Rabago on a ground-out, and Pope then scored to make it 5-3 on a Ryan Lang double.

Leggett worked around a one-out double in the home seventh with two pop-ups and a strikeout to pitch another scoreless inning. Hendrix responded with two more runs in the eighth off RBIs from Harris and Nolan to take a commanding 7-3 lead. Conner Bryson and Braxton Waller (S, 8) combined for a scoreless home eighth, with Waller able to get the Warriors out of a bases-loaded dilemma after entering out of the bullpen.

Giancarlo Digiacomo scored Charlie Deaton on a sacrifice fly in the ninth to give Hendrix another insurance run, and Waller retired the side in the home ninth to secure the win and his eighth save of the season to date.

Nolan and Ketcham led the Warriors offensively with 3-for-4 days at teh plate, while Deaton, Harris, and Lang all had multi-hit days as well. Hendrix out-hit Dallas 15-9 and only struck out on three occasions while working seven base-on-balls.

Hendrix (16-11, 11-8 SCAC) will look to take the series from Dallas on Friday in a mid-day doubleheader.