ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Head Coach Cody Hooten and the Henderson State baseball team opened the 2024 campaign with a 5-2 victory over Rogers State in game one of the Dugan Invitational from Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Ark., Thursday

The Reddies have now won their season opener for the fourth consecutive year. Ushering in the victory was starting pitcher Ryan Galvan (1-0), who pitched 5.2 innings while allowing four hits and one run and striking out four batters.

Owen Vanthillo claimed a no-decision in 2.1 innings of work before Henry Coppens earned the save after entering for Rogers' final at-bat, working three-up, three-down. For the game, the Hillcats left nine runners on base as Galvan and Vanthillo worked out of several jams before Coppens slammed the door shut.

Kaden Argenbright saw the best day at the plate for the Reddies, getting on base four times with two walks and two hits, including a solo home run in the top of the eighth to put HSU ahead by three runs. True freshman Jordan Allen (1-3) and Austin Scritchfield (1-3) each recorded a hit while also scoring a run.

Rogers State got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first, only to be met with three runs from Henderson in the top of the second. A lead-off walk from Argenbright was followed with back-to-back singles from Allen and Scritchfield before HSU scored on each of its next three plate appearances to claim its first lead.

Rogers only saw one hit off Galvan over its next four team at-bats as Henderson extended the lead with a Luke Farrar score off an RSU error in the top of the fifth. The Hillcats appeared to finally get something going in the sixth with two on courtesy of a walk and a single on two outs, but a fresh Vanthillo struck out the tying-run at the plate to keep the lead intact. 

The designated home team was able to cut into the lead with a single run in the bottom of the seventh before Argenbright re-established the three-run advantage with a solo shot over the right field wall in the eighth.

With neither team doing anything heading into the final half-inning, 2023 Second Team All-Region selection Coppens faced three batters in the ninth with a three-run lead before sitting them down in order for the season-opening victory.

Henderson State (1-0) will return to Majestic Park tomorrow for a showdown against No. 23 Missouri Southern at 7 p.m.