ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — After going 1-3 at the McGhee-Hawkins Invitational, Henderson State will look to get back on track in Bentonville, Arkansas this weekend when it plays four non-conference opponents as a part of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic.

Through eight games, the HSU offense has been paced by outfielders Kailey Reese and Kaitlyn O'Quinn, who are tied for the team lead with nine hits and six runs. Reese also leads the team with a .409 batting average and a .536 on-base percentage. O'Quinn has already swiped 10 bags without being thrown out and leads the Reddies with a .583 slugging percentage. Freshman Czoey White also got things going in the final game of the weekend, finishing 3-for-3 with Henderson's first home run of the season.

Game 1: Wayne State (Preseason No. 16 in the NSC) Feb. 15 | 10 a.m.
- Henderson State will be playing in its third non-conference tournament in as many weekends, but will serve as the season opener for Wayne State on Saturday morning. The Wildcats are looking for a turnaround season after going 15-32 and 6-24 in an ultra-competitive Northern Sun Conference.

- Wayne State will need a handful of newcomers to step up this season after losing five of their top six hitters off of last year's squad, including Second Team All-Conference players Taylor Menard and Emily Chandler. Junior Ashley Hernandez returns for the Wildcats and will have to be a leader for a team that does not feature a senior on the roster. Hernandez batted .283 last season with a .469 slugging percentage and led the team in doubles with 13.

- HSU's last matchup with Wayne State was during the 2016 edition of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic when the Reddies prevailed 7-6.

Game 2: Emporia State (Preseason No. 6 in the MIAA) Feb. 15 | 12 p.m.
- The Reddies will wrap up Saturday against an Emporia State squad looking to take the next step in 2020. The Hornets finished last season with a 14-12 record in MIAA play and were one game short of their third-straight conference championship appearance.

- The Hornets are led by All-MIAA honorees Hannah Steeby and Gabby Biondo. Last season, Steeby proved to be one of the most dynamic players in the MIAA, finishing in the top six of the conference in home runs (13), stolen bases (27), runs scored (48), RBI (47), slugging percentage (.707), and triples (5). Biondo also returns after hitting .348 and leading the Hornets with 28 stolen bases in 2019.

- Emporia State has big shoes to fill in the circle with the departure of Montana Mesler who started 28 of ESU's 56 games while striking out 150 batters in 155.1 innings.

- The Reddies have won five in a row against Emporia State, including a 5-4 victory in the final game of the 2019 Alvy Early Memorial Classic in Arkadelphia.

Game 3: Missouri Southern (Preseason No. 9 in the MIAA) Feb. 16 | 2 p.m.
- The Lions got off to a hot start in 2020 with a 14-0 bludgeoning of East Central in the season opener. Unfortunately for MSSU, it would prove to be their only win of the opening weekend as they fell in three straight contests, including a 5-1 defeat to GAC opponent Southeastern Oklahoma State.

- The strength of this Lions team is up the middle with second baseman Makaila Leonhart and shortstop Josie Tofpi. Both infielders were Honorable Mention All-MIAA last season. Tofpi started all 44 games at shortstop as a true freshman and led the team in batting average (.367), on-base percentage (.407), at-bats (139), hits (51), runs scored (31), and triples (4). Leonhart established herself at the two spot of the lineup and led the team in slugging percentage (.522) while finishing just behind Topfi in batting average (.343), on-base percentage (396), hits (46), runs scored (29), and triples (3).

- Henderson State has dominated the recent history against MSSU, outscoring the Lions 36-3 and winning each of the last five meetings.

Game 4: Central Missouri (Preseason No. 3 in the MIAA) Feb. 16 | 4 p.m.
- Henderson's final game of the 2020 Alvy Early Memorial Classic might also be the toughest matchup as they take on a UCM Jennies team that finished 17-9 in the MIAA last season. The Jennies also return five All-MIAA players off of the 2019 squad including Jessica Sader and Lauryn Deer.

- Sader was one of the top freshman in the MIAA last season and led the Jennies with a .381 average and a .421 on-base percentage. Deer took home All-MIAA honors for the third time last season as a Second Team All-Conference performer. The outfielder was in the top two for UCM in batting average (.375), hits (75), runs (44), on-base percentage (.417), and stolen bases (28).

- The Jennies also return their top two starters from last season in Gentry Wishard and Alexa Bradley. The duo combined to win 22 of UCM's 34 games last season.

- The Reddies have won three in a row over UCM with the last matchup coming in 2018 during the Emporia State Classic.