ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas and Henderson State last played against each other on March 10, 2020 in a midweek game that stood as the final contest of the spring for both teams. On Friday afternoon, the two programs picked up where the pandemic left off, on the diamond against each other in what was a bitterly cold day for baseball. HSU took the season opener 4-3 on a walk-off in the eighth inning, but #16 Southern Arkansas bounced back in a big way in game two with a 7-2 win to split the day.
 
After a solo home run by HSU's Matthew Baker in the bottom of the second inning of game two, Southern Arkansas tied the game in the next half frame as sophomore Riley Orr scored on a wild pitch. In the top of the fourth, sophomore Brett McGee, the team's home run leader last spring, sent a pitch over the right field wall to give SAU a 2-1 lead.
 
The Muleriders would cushion that one-run advantage in support of SAU starter Parker Abrego (1-0) in the fifth inning as they pushed across three runs in the frame. Martinez singled to plate seniors Austin Baker and Kobe Morris and advanced to third on a two-base error where he would score on a hit through the left side off the bat of senior Mason Peterson.
 
Southern Arkansas, which averaged seven runs a game last spring, reached that mark in the sixth inning as Baker singled home junior Josh Walker and freshman Chris Lyles.
 
In relief of Abrego, who finished his start at 6.0 innings pitched with four hits scattered to go along with two strikeouts and just two walks, was junior Jack Liddell. The Canadian made quick work of the Reddies as he fanned two in the seventh to give Southern Arkansas its first win of the season and tenth out of the past 11 meetings with the Reddies.
 
Baker led SAU with three hits including a double and drove in two runs. Martinez also accounted for a pair of RBI in the win.
 
In the season opener, Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 1-0 lead as sophomore Ty Manning walked with the bases loaded to push home Baker who led off the season with a walk. In the top of the fourth, junior Tucker Burton homered on a no-doubt shot out to right field that scored sophomore Connor Allen to put the Muleriders up 3-0.
 
Henderson State had managed just a single base runner through the first three innings off of Mulerider starter Zach Smith, but in the home half of the fourth the host answered with a three-run, three hit frame with all of the damage coming via a three-run home run off the bat of Joe Myers with two outs in the inning.
 
Both teams would collect two hits each over the next three innings of play and with the game tied at 3 through the scheduled seven innings, the opener headed to extras. After a controversial call on a bunt attempt, which was trying to push the go-ahead run to second, was ruled a double play, the Muleriders were turned away in the eighth.
 
HSU benefited from a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt that moved the leadoff batter to second and a wild pitch which placed the winning run at third, before a single from Myers ended the contest to give the Reddies a 4-3 victory.
 
Manning recorded two hits, walked once and was hit-by-pitch, while Burton recorded two hits, two RBI, a run scored and a walk. Allen singled and Martinez doubled in the loss. 
 
Smith went 7.0 innings in game one allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Santos Sosa recorded an out as he faced four batters in his Mulerider debut in relief of Smith. Senior Matt Kortendick faced Myers in the eighth.
 
Weather permitting, Southern Arkansas returns to action on Saturday for a scheduled nine-inning game against Ouachita. First-pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.