Henderson State will begin its home schedule on Thursday with a meeting against Nebraska-Kearney at Clyde Berry Field with the first pitch set for 6 p.m.

Thursday's game is the start of the HSU Invitational with the Reddies playing a single-game the next four days. The game begins a stretch of 11 straight home game for the Reddies.

Henderson will face Northwest Missouri on Friday at 3 p.m., Central Missouri on Saturday at 6 p.m. and face Truman State in the tournament finale on Sunday at noon.

Henderson is coming off an impressive weekend that saw the Reddies go 3-0 with a victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith and a pair of wins over Pittsburg State.

The Reddie pitching staff looked in mid-season form as the staff allowed just three earned runs in 27 innings, combining for 21 strikeouts while surrendering just four walks.

Bryant Haralson will start on the mound against the Lopers on Thursday. The junior from Atkins, Ark. pitched three innings of shutout ball to pick up the win against Pittsburg State last Saturday.

Luke Tebbetts will face Northwest Missouri on Friday after opening the season with a win over Pittsburg State last Friday. The senior from Winnsboro, Texas pitched seven complete innings and struck out a pair of batters in picking up the victory.

Chris Hunt will face No. 3 Central Missouri on Saturday. Hunt was named the Great American Conference Pitcher of the Week for his effort against Arkansas-Fort Smith last week. The senior from Greenwood, Ark. pitched six complete innings striking out a career-high nine batters in helping lead the Reddies to a 4-0 win over the Lions.

Hunt gave up just two hits and did not allow a walk. Only one Lion reached second base with Hunt facing just two batters above the minimum.

Austin Cross had a great start to his collegiate career last weekend. The freshman left-hander from Ashdown pitched five innings, struck out a pair of batters and gave up just one unearned run in a no decision. Cross is set to start on Sunday against Truman State.

Offensively the Reddies were led by Parker Jones who went 7-for-11 in the three games, while Joe Myers was 4-for-9.
 
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
The Lopers are 2-2 on the season after splitting a four-game series with Metro State last weekend. UNK finished 2016 with a 19-29 record overall and a 16-23 mark in the MIAA.

Tanner Spencer is the scheduled starter on the mound for UNK. The senior right-hander made 10 appearances last season with eight starts. Last weekend he surrendered five runs in the first-inning against Metro State.

Junior catcher Dallas Schramm led the team offensively last weekend and was named MIAA Hitter of the Week after going 11-for-15 (.733).
Schramm hit three home runs, four doubles, scored five times and had 13 RBI's. In the field.
Schramm hit for a .302 average a year ago and belted a team-best 12 home runs along with 44 RBI.

Josh Estrada is also a top returnee for the Lopers. The junior shortstop hit .289 a year ago with 8 home runs and 22 RBI.  

Ricky Trammell is another player to watch for UNK. Trammell was 6-for-14 last weekend with a pair of doubles.


NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Northwest Missouri is 4-0 after recording a 6-3 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Tuesday.

The Bearcats have a solid pitching staff led by junior Joseph Hietpas who was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week after striking out 15 batters in seven innings against Northwestern Oklahoma State.

The right-hander from Fairfield, Iowa made 15 starts last season, posting a 4-4 record. Hieptas is set to start against the Reddies on Friday.

James Holler collected seven hits in the opening weekend to lead the Bearcat offense, while Landon Figg had five hits and 5 RBI.
Holler hit .300 a year ago and had a team-best 8 home runs and 38 RBI.

Kevin Handzlik was a Third-Team All-MIAA selection last season after having a team best .344 average with 3 home runs and 33 RBI. The junior outfielder went 5-for-15 in the opening weekend.


CENTRAL MISSOURI
Central Missouri opened the season taking two-of-three games from North Alabama last weekend in Millington, Tenn.

The Mules, ranked No. 3 in the ABCA preseason poll, claimed the MIAA and Central Region Championships last season and advanced to the Division II National Championships

UCM finished 2016 with a 43-15 record and ranked No. 4 in the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.

However, Henderson recorded a 6-5 win over the Mules last year at the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park to open the season.

J.J. Benes is penciled in to start on the mound against Henderson. Against North Alabama he pitched 5.0 innings and struck out three batters in a 9-3 win.

Matt Elliott is one of UCM's top offensive returnees after hitting .332, with 10 home runs and a .607 slugging.  The junior outfield earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA.

Newcomer Travis Stroup is a big addition to UCM. The senior infielder transferred from Kansas City Community College where he hit for a .447 average with 13 home runs in 54 games played in 2016. Stroup went 4-for-8 last weekend against UNA.


TRUMAN STATE
Truman State opens the season this weekend in Arkadelphia after finishing 2016 with a 20-30 record last year and a 12-16 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Bulldogs are led by senior Dave Gambino who was named a preseason all-region selection at first base by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

A second-team All-GLVC pick a year ago, Gambino hit .308 with four home runs and 34 runs batted in.

Middle infielder Nick Agliolo was a First-Team All-GLVC shortstop, and Second-Team All-ABCA Midwest region selection last season.
Agliolo led Truman in hitting with a .360 average and started the season with a 15-game hitting streak.

Top pitchers for Truman include Kent Frantz, Sam Reuter and Alex Hoffman.

Frantz was one of two Bulldogs to make 12 starts on the season and posted a 2-6 record with a 6.12 ERA. The junior right-hander logged a team-high 60.1 innings on the hill and led the staff in strikeouts with 42.

Reuter started three games and made seven relief appearances a year ago in posting a 2-2 record.

Hoffmann was second on the staff with 14 pitching appearances, making six starts and working 56.1 innings. The senior right-hander finished 5-4 and struck out 28 batters.

Live stats for all games played at Clyde Berry Field can be found on the HSU website at www.hsusports.com.

COMPLETE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
6 p.m.             Nebraska-Kearney at Henderson State               Clyde Berry Field
1 p.m.             Northwest Missouri at Ouachita Baptist               Rab Rodgers Field


FRIDAY
3 p.m.             Northwest Missouri at Henderson State              Clyde Berry Field
6 p.m.             Central Missouri vs. Truman State                       Clyde Berry Field
1 p.m.             Nebraska-Kearney at Ouachita Baptist               Rab Rodgers Field

SATURDAY
Noon              Northwest Missouri vs. Truman State                  Clyde Berry Field
3 p.m.             Nebraska-Kearney vs. Truman State                   Clyde Berry Field
6 p.m.             Central Missouri at Henderson State                   Clyde Berry Field
1 p.m.             Central Missouri at Ouachita Baptist                    Rab Rodgers Field

SUNDAY
Noon              Truman State at Henderson State                       Clyde Berry Field
1 p.m.             Nebraska-Kearney at Ouachita Baptist               Rab Rodgers Field