SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The first game of the 2023 GAC Tournament Final Four from Arvest Ballpark leaned the way of top-seed Southern Arkansas as the Reddies fell to the Muleriders Thursday afternoon, 4-2.

Starting pitcher Reese Weaks and relief hurler Mitchell Szczygiel were efficient in the combined outing, throwing five strikeouts while only allowing four hits and yielding four runs in the joint effort. Southern Arkansas' pitching was equally as successful, forcing HSU to strand nine runners on the basepaths.

Luke Farrar and Logan Cowart each recorded two hits and one RBI to lead the squad. As a team, Henderson managed six hits, one which was a double courtesy of Colton Patterson. The Reddie offense out-hit SAU, 6-4. 

Weaks went toe-to-toe with Southern Arkansas All-GAC First Team starting pitcher Jeremy Adorno as SAU did not manage to get a hit until the third inning. Adorno delivered similar work, as HSU was held scoreless for the same amount of time. The stand-off broke in the home-half of the third with the Muleriders plating three runs behind two hits, a walk and two hit-by-pitches.

The three-run deficit did not stand for long as Henderson cut it down to one in its next at-bat. After a pair of walks on two outs, the Reddies got back-to-back singles from Cowart and Farrar to score the previously-walked Louis Holt and Patterson to bring the tally to 3-2.

Szczygiel relieved Weaks in the fourth, keeping the tournament's top seed scoreless for the next four innings while the red-and-gray offense claimed just one hit in that time. The two-way pitching duel resumed, however, as HSU was held hitless until the ninth inning. By that point, Southern Arkansas was able to add an insurance run with one swing of the bat, using a solo home run to establish a two-run lead.

The first two Reddie batters popped and lined out to put the game one out away from completion. For the second time in the contest, Henderson strung together consecutive two-out singles, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. A well-hit fly-ball found the pit of the right fielder's glove as play was retired with the Muleriders taking the 4-2 win.

No. 4 seed Henderson St. (32-21, 21-12) will return to Arvest Ballpark tomorrow at 3 p.m. where it will face the loser of No. 2 seed Ouachita Baptist and No. 6 seed Oklahoma Baptist in an elimination game.