Southern Arkansas used a five-run eighth-inning to beat Henderson State 7-2, Friday in Magnolia, Ark.

The Reddies, 20-17 overall and 9-10 in the Great American Conference, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first-inning.

Zac Zdanowicz opened the game with double down the left-field line and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Conner Brackhahn then followed with another double to left-center field and then scored on a Josh Salmon single.

Starting pitcher Nathan Eller cruised through the first four innings before the Muleriders struck for a run in the fifth-inning loading the bases on singles by Jody Spain and Jason Dahl followed by Trey Buck being hit by a pitch. Spain scored on a sacrifice fly by Gavan McCauley to make the score 2-1.

SAU starting pitcher Doug Shields held the Reddies in check for most of the game except for the sixth-inning when Henderson loaded the bases on singles by Salmon and Dustin Hudson, along with a walk for Adam Ussery. However, Shields worked out of the inning as he got Taylor Coleman to fly out to second.

Southern Arkansas, 25-11 and 11-5, tied the score in the sixth-inning when David Allday reached on a catcher's interference and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Muleriders then took control in the eighth-inning by putting together five hits including a pair of two-run doubles by Ryan Dardenne and Dahl to take the first game of the series.

Shields went the distance on the mound for SAU striking out nine batters while surrendering six hits to improve to 6-1 on the year.

Eller was tabbed with the loss to fall to 4-3 on the year.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series with a double-header beginning at 3 p.m.