ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Senior Kobe Morris pushed his hitting streak to 19 games as #25 Southern Arkansas overcame an early five-run deficit against Henderson State with nine runs on a dozen hits to claim the Great American Conference opener 9-6 over the Reddies on Friday night at Clyde Berry Field. The Muleriders' win streak improves to nine games and SAU has won 12 of its past 13 games as the club's overall record moves to 15-6 with a 12-4 mark in league play.
 
Henderson State used a three-run homerun from Kaden Argenbright with one out in the bottom of the first inning which was followed by a bases loaded walk with two outs in the frame and then a solo homerun by Joe Myers in the second inning which built a 5-0 HSU lead through two innings.
 
Southern Arkansas responded with two outs in the top half of the third inning as a single through the right side by junior Tucker Burton plated senior Austin Baker before a two-run double off the bat of sophomore Brett McGee scored junior Jacob Martinez and Burton as the Muleriders cut into the deficit to trail by just two runs after three innings of play.
 
In the fifth inning, Morris belted his fifth homerun of the season; a leadoff shot out to right field that brought SAU to within a single run of the host's lead. Later in the inning and with the bases loaded with two outs, senior Mason Peterson drew a six-pitch walk to push Martinez home and tie the series opener at 5.
 
The Reddies regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning against SAU starter Zach Smith as a two-out RBI single plated a run to make it 6-5 HSU through five innings of play.
 
However, Southern Arkansas answered again as Martinez, who had scored two prior runs, got in on the RBI act as he singled through the left side with one out to plate Morris. An inning later, the Muleriders took the lead for the first time on Friday night as sophomore Riley Orr doubled home sophomore Conner Allen to put SAU up 7-6. Orr scored on an RBI single by Morris and the latter scored on a wild pitch in Burton's at bat as the Muleriders staked SAU reliever Santos Sosa to a 9-6 advantage, prior to the stretch, which would hold for the final score.
 
Sosa took over for Smith who started for the Muleriders. The senior right hander went 4.2 innings and worked around six runs on seven hits including the aforementioned five early runs by the Reddies in the first two innings. He finished with four strikeouts as he faced 26 batters. Smith worked a perfect third and fourth innings and retired the first two batters of the fifth inning before running into trouble and prompting Sosa's entrance.
 
Sosa picked up his fourth win of the season as he allowed only three hits in the final 4.1 innings of action. He fanned seven with three walks as he faced twenty batters; none of which made it past second base.
 
Orr collected three hits to lead the Muleriders in the opener, while Burton and Morris added two each. Morris scored three runs and Martinez scored twice. Morris and McGee each delivered two RBI. Martinez (4) and Burton (3) combined for seven of the team's ten walks on Friday. In addition to his hit streak climbing to 19 games, Morris has reached base in all 21 of SAU's games this spring and owns a reached base safely streak of 27 games dating back to last season.
 
Southern Arkansas and Henderson State will decide a series winner on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.