COVERAGE LINKS | 2024 SCHEDULE

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henderson State baseball marks its return to the diamond for the 2024 season on Thursday, Feb. 1 at historic Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Ark., when the Reddies battle Rogers State. First pitch from Babe Ruth Field is set for 10 a.m.

Over the next four days, HSU will play four games, three of which will be in Hot Springs. Henderson's home opener will be Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. when Colorado School of Mines makes its inaugural trip to Clyde Berry Field.   

REDDIES REPORT
Henderson State opens 2024 with the third annual Dugan Invitational, where it is 5-1. However, all six of HSU's games as part of the Dugan Invite have been played at Clyde Berry Field, with Thursday being Henderson's first time to play on Babe Ruth Field during the regular season. The 2022 GAC Tournament was held at Majestic Park, where HSU went 3-0 before falling to Southern Arkansas in the GAC Title Game.

The red-and-gray enter the new season ranked 10th in the Central Region Preseason Poll. The Reddies have appeared at NCAA Regionals two of the last three years. In the last three seasons, HSU has compiled a 100-58 record, which is the second best record in the GAC over that stretch. 

The Reddies return an experienced group from last season's 33-22 ball club, including a 21-12 GAC record. Three of the team's top four hitters will take the field this season, including fifth-year senior Kaden Argenbright, who has a career batting average of .343. Argenbright comes into the year second in career at-bats (669), runs scored (154), RBI (144), hits (230) and total bases (350).

Headlining the pitching staff are returners Reese Weaks, Andrew Howard and Ryan Galvan. Howard owned a clubhouse-best 8-3 record while Weaks led the team with 60 strikeouts as opposing batters hit just .216 off him, which led the GAC. Also returning to the mound will be closer Henry Coppens, who was second on last season's squad with five saves as he allowed just 17 hits in 19 appearances while recording 45 strikeouts in 33.2 innings of work.

SCOUTING ROGERS STATE
Thursday will be just the second ever meeting between Rogers State and Henderson State, with RSU taking the first meeting last year in Arkadelphia, 6-4. Rogers enters 2024 after coming off a 26-22 campaign last season, finishing with a 14-19 conference record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

The Hillcats return six position starters and three starting pitchers, including All-MIAA outfielder AJ Folds, who batted .351 with 15 doubles, 19 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. Also returning is utility player Geovanni Blackshaw, who recorded three home runs, 21 RBI with a .336 batting average, and outfielder Carson Cheatwood, who hit .269 as a freshman.

Octavio Sanchez heads up the pitching staff after sporting a 3-0 record with 8 saves and a 2.66 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched in 2023. Andres De Leon made 11 pitching appearances including nine starts last season as the sophomore posted a 2-4 record and struck out 36 batters in 43 innings.

SCOUTING NO. 23 MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE
No. 23 Missouri Southern State, who was picked to finish second in the MIAA 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll, is coming off an historic 2023 season, winning the second most games ever in a season (45-17) and advancing to its first NCAA Regional Tournament appearance since 2019. In the national polls, MSSU was ranked as high as No. 4 during the season.  

Some of the Lions' top returners include 2023 Second-Team All-American and 2024 Preseason All-American Nate Mieszkowski, who finished last season with a .374 batting average while totaling 19 doubles, 14 home runs and 66 RBI, All-Region shortstop Henry Kusiak, boasting a .313 average with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 58 RBI and MIAA Freshman of the Year Ethan Clark.

Friday will be the ninth all-time meeting with Missouri Southern State, with MSSU taking the most recent matchup last year in Arkadelphia, 4-3. The Reddie pitching staff allowed just five hits to the high-powered Lion offense, but an early 3-0 hole after an inning and a half was too much for HSU to climb out of.

SCOUTING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Colorado School of Mines will face off with Henderson State for the first time in program history Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. Mines was voted fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Preseason Coaches Poll following a 22-25 finish last year, including a 17-15 record in league play.

The Orediggers bring an experienced unit to Clyde Berry Field, returning seven starters in the batting lineup and three starting pitchers. Topping the list of returners is RMAC Freshman of the Year outfielder Jackson Woolwine, who led the way with a .366 batting average while tallying 54 runs, 64 hits and 38 RBI, fellow outfielder Mason Andrews, who hit .356 with 52 runs, 50 RBI, 15 doubles and 10 home runs and honorable mention All-RMAC shortstop I-Ly Hsue, closing his 2023 campaign with a .328 batting average, 38 runs, 22 RBI, nine doubles and four home runs.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN STATE
After posting a 25-28 overall record with a 15-18 stand in MIAA action, the Northeastern State Riverhawks will begin 2024 with former East Central head coach Sunny Golloway in his first year at the helm of the NSU program.

Golloway brings a wealth of experience to the Riverhawks, serving as the head coach at Auburn University for two years, leading them to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Golloway also spent eight seasons as head coach at the University of Oklahoma, where he led the Sooners to seven NCAA Regional berths, four NCAA Super Regionals and the 2010 College World Series.

Leading Northeastern State on the field will be Second-Team All-MIAA designated hitter Coby Tweten after hitting .356 with 9 home runs and 39 RBI last season. Also returning is honorable mention All-MIAA Ty Van Meter with a .284 batting average with seven home runs and 31 RBI and first baseman C.D. White (.337 BA, 9 HR, 34 RBI), who earned a spot on the 2022 Dugan Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Henderson State is sporting a two-game winning streak over Northeastern State, with both wins coming in the 2022 NCAA Regional in Magnolia, Arkansas, including a classic 11-10 victory in what was NSU's last postseason appearance to date.

TICKETS
For fans who wish to make the 50-minute trip north, admittance into Majestic Park is $8 per person per day. Kids 10 years old and younger are free.

HOW TO WATCH
Majestic Park has a contract with Live Barn for video streaming across their five fields this spring. For fans who wish to watch all three of Henderson State's games in Hot Springs, Live Barn offers four purchase options, ranging from monthly to yearly subscriptions. Viewers can also use the promo code "maje-stic" for a discount. Fans can visit Livebarn.com and search "Majestic Park" and click on "Babe Ruth Field."