ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State chased Southern Arkansas' starting pitcher in the first inning thanks to back-to-back homers from Brooke Johnson and Miyah Jackson, but the GAC-leading Muleriders were able to survive in game one of the weekend series, 7-4.
 
The Reddies got three home runs from Johnson, Jackson and Savannah Hughes for the most home runs in a game this season since Feb. 28 when HSU logged four homers against Southern Nazarene. In addition to the deep ball, Johnson claimed one additional base knock to finish 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
It took SAU all of three batters to get on the scoreboard first as four hits yielded two runs in the top of the first. The fast start did not seem to faze Henderson, however, as a lead-off single from Justine Burch brought to the plate Johnson, who tied the game with one swing of the bat, sending one over the left field wall to bring HSU two runs.
 
Jackson, in only her sixth game this season, continued the good fortune with her first home run of her young career on the opposite side of the field to claim a 3-2 lead that 10 minutes prior felt out of reach given the unfortunate start for the home team. The back-to-back bombs forced SAU's coach to pull his game-one arm after just 0.1 inning of work.
 
Henderson's starting pitcher Savannah Carrigan maintained the lead through the second and third inning before the GAC's top squad flexed its muscle in the top of the fourth to the tune of three runs to retake a 5-3 lead. Another run from the Muleriders was met was HSU's third homer of the game courtesy of Hughes to keep the deficit at two, 6-4.
 
With relief pitcher Johnson coming to the circle in the top of the sixth, a hitless at-bat offered HSU a chance to cut into the lead even more. A two-out single from Jones brought fellow base-hitters Johnson and Crysta Larey to second and third as Hughes stood at the plate with two outs and loaded bases staring back at her.
 
Hughes' second homer of the contest fell just short of the wall as the Muleriders' right-fielder ended the threat at the warning track before SAU added one final insurance run to take a 7-4 lead into the final at-bat. Another promising fly ball with two outs found Southern Arkansas' left-fielder's glove to finish off the game.
 
Henderson State (9-28, 6-12) will return to Dee White Field tomorrow to face Southern Arkansas in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. with the third and final game of the series starting at approximately 4 p.m.