Henderson State will begin Great American Conference play this weekend as the Reddies travel to Searcy, Ark. to take on Harding in a three-game series beginning Friday at 2 p.m.

The Reddies are 3-7 on the season, having played some challenging competition in preparation for league play. Due to early season injuries, numerous freshmen have seen plenty of playing time with up to four true freshmen in the starting lineup.

As a team, the Reddies are hitting .221 and head coach Cody Hooten is looking for better offensive production.

"Injuries have set us back and we have had to rely on some of our younger guys who are trying to make the adjustment from high school to the collegiate level," said Hooten. "We have done well getting on base, but we need to do better at getting that timely hit."

Alan Hall leads the Reddies offensively with a .318 average including six RBI, while Jordan Taylor is hitting .313 with three doubles and 8 RBI. Taylor was injured last weekend and is questionable for the weekend series.

Chris Hunt will start Friday's game on the mound for the Reddies.

The junior from Greenwood, Ark. is 0-2 on the season with a 7.41 earned run average. Hunt, who has struck out 17 batters in 17 innings of work, is looking to get back to form from a year ago where he led the team with a 3.12 ERA.

Luke Tebbetts and Zach Eschberger are set to start in Saturday's twin bill.

Tebbetts has pitched well this year having a 2.76 ERA, but is still looking for his first win of the season.

Eschberger has a 5.02 ERA and is also attempting to pick up his first collegiate win.

Harding enters the series with a 4-5 record after recording a three-game sweep over Oklahoma Panhandle State last weekend.

Offensively the Bisons have a .248 team average and are scoring just under four runs per game.

Zac Stewart leads the team with a .394 average along with four doubles and five RBI, while Alan Copeland and Davis Richardson are both hitting for a .250 average.

Andrew Fiddler, Hunter Payne and Andrew Ralston make up the starting rotation for the Bisons.

Fiddler is 1-1 on the year with a 2.95 ERA having worked 18.1 innings, while Payne is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA. Payne leads the team with 18 strikeouts.
Ralston sports a 1-1 record with a 2.00 ERA and has fanned 13 batters in 18 innings.

Live stats and video for the entire series will be available via the HSU Athletics website at www.hsusports.com.