ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas baseball team took the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader at Henderson State 12-3 to even the weekend series at a game apiece, but SAU was forced to split the twin-bill as Henderson captured the series and nightcap by a score of 4-1.
 
In the opener, SAU (19-11, 11-7 GAC) got off to a resounding start as they scored four runs on five hits in the top of the first inning to dart out to a 4-0 lead. The biggest hit among those five in the inning was a three-run homerun to left field off the bat of Justin Buchanan.
 
After that offensive explosion in top of the first inning, however, the Muleriders would manage just one hit until the top of the seventh as Henderson's starter Chris Hunt settled in and kept the game within reach for the Reddies (14-17, 10-8 GAC).
 
As Hunt settled in, the Reddie offense would plate single runs in the bottom of the third and sixth innings to cut the Mulerider lead to two, 4-2.
 
In that seventh inning, however, the Muleriders would start to reignite their offense as Michael Page led off with a double down the left field line. Trevor Rucker then followed with a bunt single, advancing Page in the process. Keaton Miller then drove in Page from third for make it a 5-2 game as Miller fouled out to left field.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Henderson would push across another single run on sacrifice fly to make it a two-run game once more, this time at 5-3.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Muleriders would pull away for good as they hung a seven-spot in the inning to take a 12-3 lead. Those seven runs scored thanks to three hits on SAU's own accord, but Reddie pitching would issue six walks and one hit-by-pitch to aid the Mulerider cause. In fact, three of those walks forced in runs as they came with the bases loaded.
 
With that sizable cushion, SAU reliever Eric Schildt, who came on to start the top of the seventh, would come back to the mound in the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning to end the game and in the process give himself a three-inning save, his first of the year.
 
In the second game, roles would reverse in the first inning as it was the Reddies who scored four runs in the frame to grab a 4-0 lead.
 
As it would turnout as well, those four runs in the first would be all the scoring HSU would do and need as the Muleriders were held scoreless until the final half inning when they scored a run on a two-out single by Page.
 
Following that RBI single by Page, the Muleriders would bring the go-ahead run to the plate as the bases were loaded, but a groundout to shortstop ended the threat and the game.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare for a mid-week game against LSU-Shreveport at home on Tuesday, March 29. The Pilots will enter that game 20-11 overall and ranked No. 13 in the NAIA according to the Perfect Game Top 25 poll released on March 23.