MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas dropped its series finale to Henderson State 9-5 on Monday afternoon from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. SAU stranded 16 base runners in the defeat as HSU handed the Muleriders the club's first Great American Conference series loss. 

Three-hit days from Brandon Nicoll and Will Richardson were not enough for SAU in the season's 21st game. Both players homered and Richardson doubled. Each finished with two RBI and Nicoll scored twice to Richardson crossing once. 

The Reddies struck for two runs in the third and added four more with two gone in the fourth off of SAU starter Tim Ruffino and in support of HSU starter Reese Weaks. 

Southern Arkansas responded with their first run of the game in the ensuing half inning as a walk to Chris Sutton plated Mikey McGinnis, but SAU left the bases stranded as the Reddies carried a 6-1 lead through four innings. 

Nicoll homered for the eighth time this season in the sixth which brought SAU to within three runs of the deficit, but a pinch hit homer by Nick Tremblay, the Reddies' lone extra base hit of a 15-hit afternoon, provided enough cushion against the SAU bats. 

Richardson homered in the eighth to close the gap. SAU left the bags full in the fourth, fifth and ninth innings. 

Austin Adair logged the final out of the fourth and was solid across the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to keep the Muleriders in the contest. Tremblay's home run was the biggest in a five-hit frame off of Adair who had allowed only one hit prior to the inning and just two before Tremblay's plate appearance. 

Southern Arkansas returns to action on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. first pitch against Ouachita. Live coverage links of the non conference action are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.