ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henry Coppens made his way to the mound at Rab Rogers Field against Ouachita Baptist in the seventh inning with HSU holding a one-run lead and pitched three scoreless innings to give Henderson State the win in game one of the final regular season series, 6-5.

With the win and Arkansas-Monticello's loss against Southern Arkansas in their series-opening contest, Henderson has clinched the four seed as they will host a first round, best-of-three series in the 2023 GAC Tournament May 5-6.

Coppens' efforts earned him the third save of the season as he allowed just two hits while striking out three Tiger batters, including two in the final inning. Reese Weaks earned a no-decision after throwing four innings in which he allowed two runs on just three hits before Mitchell Szczygiel (5-1) earned the win in relief after throwing two innings.

Henderson got two home-runs in the afternoon rivalry from Greyson Stevens and Louis Holt. Holt's three-run homer capped off a five-run first inning before the Reddie pitchers were able to hold off an OUA comeback that featured four unanswered runs.

Henderson's offense got started fast, thanks in part to a pair of walks administered to two of HSU's first three batters. A double from Stevens to split the walks loaded the bases before Kaden Argenbright's sacrifice fly, followed by another double off the bat of Dillon Thomas, opening the door for the Reddies' biggest hit of the early going.

With Thomas and Luke Rice aboard, Holt capitalized the dazzling start for the visitors with a three-run shot to right center to the pleasure of the Reddie fans who made the trek across the street.

A Henderson 5-0 advantage was quickly cut to four off a Ouachita Baptist lead-off home run, but the HSU defense sat down the next three OUA batters in order. The Reddies' second home run came in the second frame with Stevens' solo homer re-establishing a five-run lead.

6-1 remained the score until the Tigers began to slowly climb back. A single run in the third was followed by another two runs in the fifth. One more run in the sixth brought the game to 6-5 as the momentum appeared to be all on the home team's side.

 The Ouachita pitching continued to hold HSU at bay throughout the comeback before Coppens came to the bump in the seventh. For just the second time in the game, OUA was held hitless in the inning as Coppens began to draw some of the momentum back.

With the one-run lead remaining intact, the left-arm reliever stalled the OUA threat by leaving two base runners stranded before delivering his finest work in the ninth. After a lead-off single to open the game's final half inning, Coppens proceeded to strike out the next two Ouachita Baptist hitters before forcing a groundout for the third out to retire play. 

Henderson St. (29-19, 20-11) will return to Rab Rogers Field Sunday, Apr. 30 for the final two games of the 2023 regular season with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.