ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - On the first day of Henderson State's GAC home opener, the Reddies claimed a 5-2 win to kick off the series before dropping game two, 10-5.

Kyle Williams (2-0) earned the win on the mound in the first game, recording throwing five scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the sixth to end his day. Williams recorded six strikeouts to four walks while giving up just three hits.

At the plate, Luke Rice and Kaden Argenbright each logged three hits through the two games while Argenbright added four RBI. Jordan Allen, Nate Moore and Julio Vazquez also tallied a multi-hit game Friday afternoon.

Henderson State (7-7, 3-2 GAC) will return to Clyde Berry Field tomorrow at 12 p.m. as the Reddies vie for their second GAC series win to open the 2024 season.

GAME 1: Henderson State 5, Northwestern Oklahoma State 2
Williams kept the Rangers scoreless through the first five innings, allowing just one NWOSU hit during that time. The superb pitching allowed Henderson to slowly build a lead with single runs in the second, fourth and fifth inning.

With HSU holding a 3-0 lead, Northwestern broke through with two runs in the top of the sixth, but the Reddies responded with their first crooked number of the game after matching NWOSU with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Nate Moore's two-RBI single gave Henderson as 5-2 lead.

Owen Vanthillo came in to pitch the seventh and eighth inning, allowing just one hit while issuing two strikeouts to keep the three-run lead intact. With the offense unable to add to the lead, the Reddie pitching staff turned to Payton Byrd to close out final inning, earning his first save of the season, working three-up, three-down in the ninth. 

GAME 2: Northwestern Oklahoma State 10, Henderson State 5
After game one combined for just seven runs, Northwestern Oklahoma matched that seven-run output in just the first three innings. A 7-0 lead was trimmed to 7-4 after HSU got on the board in the bottom of the third.

Two errors from NWOSU in the home-half of the fifth opened the door for HSU to cut into the lead by another run as play stood at 7-5 moving to the sixth inning. A scoreless sixth inning on both sides yielded a three-run seventh as Henderson remained scoreless over the final two innings.