MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Great American Conference play opens up around the league this weekend and in Magnolia, (RV) Southern Arkansas prepares to welcome in Henderson State for a three-game series from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. The opener is scheduled for a 5 p.m. first-pitch on Saturday, February 15, with a doubleheader slated for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday, February 16. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
 
Southern Arkansas, picked third in the GAC Coaches Preseason Poll, and Henderson State, tabbed seventh in the same ranking, have played forty times on the diamond since the two schools first competed as GAC members in 2012. The Muleriders hold the series advantage during that time at 27-13 and have won five-consecutive games against the Reddies; none of which were at home. In Magnolia, SAU is 11-2 since the '12 campaign when HSU comes to town.
 
In conference series openers since 2012, the Muleriders own an overall record of 18-6 which is the program's same mark in home conference series openers. Last season, the two teams met in Arkadelphia to begin league play and SAU swept the series on their way to winning eight of their first nine GAC games.
 
However, series records won't amount to much on Saturday when a pair of teams that failed to meet program expectations in 2019 meet on the diamond in a pivotal early season series.
 
The Muleriders (8-0) are off to the program's best start to a season since the 1986 campaign when that year's squad started 9-0, while winning 11 of their first 12 games and 27 of their first 30 en route to an AIC Championship under legendary head coach Steve Goodheart.
 
SAU has plated seven or more runs in five of their eight games this season and have allowed two or fewer runs in five games as well. Within their 8-0 start, the Muleriders are 6-0 against in-region competition. Of the 159 Division II teams that have started their 2020 season, twenty are unbeaten, while the Muleriders are one of just three teams that currently stand at 8-0.
 
Through eight games, the Muleriders have seen solid production in multiple phases of the game. SAU has plated a conference-leading 58 runs (17^th DII), owns the league's third-best team ERA at 3.04 and ranks first in the GAC and sixth-nationally in fielding percentage at .989. Additionally, the base paths have been crowded with SAU at the plate as the Muleriders rank second in Division II in stolen bases with 24 and eighth in the country in stolen bases per game at 3.0.
 
Of the team's 75 hits, a top 20 mark in Division II, 27 have went for extra bases. Four Muleriders have recorded at least ten hits so far this season with senior Kobe Morris' dozen leading the way. Morris is also one of four players to have at least seven RBI. Sophomore Brett McGee, the team's leader in batting average (.429), and senior Mason Peterson pace the squad with nine RBI each. Peterson and senior Austin Baker have both scored ten runs; a mark that leads the GAC. Peterson's 22 total bases ranks third in the GAC, while Baker's 5-for-5 effort in stolen bases is the best such mark in the conference.
 
On the mound, the Muleriders have been led by strong starts as six of the team's eight games have seen the starting hurler go at least 6.0 innings. Senior Zach Smith and junior Hunter Brantley have yet to allow a run this season and both pitchers have struck out 17 batters which is more than each's walks and hits allowed combined. Of the combined 13 hits allowed by the two starters, only two have went for extra bases as each player has allowed one double in a collective 27.0 innings of work. Sophomore Parker Abrego has also been impressive in year two as he has posted consecutive complete games with 15 strikeouts and just five earned runs in 14.0 innings.
 
In relief, Southern Arkansas has relied on multiple arms with junior Tanner Vaught and senior Matt Kortendick each registering two saves in the early going of the season. Freshman Kade Garmany also has a save under his belt as well as a win for the Muleriders.
 
HSU enters at 1-5 overall with all five losses coming to Central Region opponents from the MIAA. An 11-2 win over Newman is the team's lone victory and the lone common opponent with the Muleriders through the first two weeks of the season. SAU defeated the Jets 3-1 in their second game at the season-opening Alpine Fresh 4HIM Classic.
 
Greyson Stevens and Caleb Carr, an All-GAC Honorable Mention selection in 2018, lead the team in hits with eight each. Of Stevens' eight hits, six have went for extra bases as he has recorded three doubles and three home runs. His seven RBI are a team-high as are his six runs scored and 20 total bases. As a team, Henderson State owns a .232 batting average with 46 hits and 32 runs scored.
 
On the mound, three pitchers have recorded at least 6.0 innings of work, while eight arms have seen time in 4.0 or more innings. The Reddies own a team ERA of 6.62 and have struck out 69 batters to 32 walks in 53.0 innings of work.