MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Henderson State drops a doubleheader against No. 14 Southern Arkansas as the Muleriders take the series 3-0. SAU won the first game of the afternoon 8-0 and went on to win 6-2 in the final contest.
 
HSU (11-14, 3-5) returns home for a doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 14, starting at 4 p.m. against rivals Ouachita Baptist at Dee White Field.
 
The Reddies logged eight hits across the two games, led by Josie Copeland, who was three of four at the plate with two RBIs over the two contests.
 
GAME ONE: SAU 8, HSU 0
The HSU bats struggled to get anything going offensively, as the team recorded four hits in seven innings. Katelyn McMahan recorded a single in the first and got into scoring position but could not advance further.
 
Southern Arkansas had a quick start to game two of the series, scoring an early run in the bottom of the first on its third batter to take a 1-0 lead. The Muleriders added runs in the second and third to extend their advantage to 3-0.
 
SAU scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth before adding two more in the fifth. Henderson had its best scoring opportunity in the fifth frame with runners on first and second with one out. Back-to-back punch outs for the Muleriders pitcher would strand the pair of base runners to escape without any damage.
 
GAME TWO: SAU 6, HSU 2
Abbie Moore got a lead-off single to start the final game, but a sacrifice bunt and back-to-back strikeouts would strand Moore on second. Southern Arkansas took advantage of two walks from Savannah Carrigan to load the bases with one out. A flyout and fielding error led to SAU's first two runs.
 
The Reddies went three-up and three-down in the second and third, while Southern Arkansas tacked on three more runs to extend its advantage to 5-0.
 
Katelyn McMahan began the top of the sixth with a lead-off single, followed by an error and a walk would load the bases for HSU. Josie Copeland's second hit of the game would be a two-RBI base hit to left field to score Jorika Alvarez and McMahan from first and second to trail 6-2 in the sixth inning.
 
Henderson got a walk from Moore to start the top of the seventh, but a fielder's choice would keep the designated player from advancing to second. Two final punch outs by Southern Arkansas closed out the game 6-2 in favor of the Muleriders.