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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - After opening the 2024 season in Hot Springs, Arkansas last weekend, Henderson State will play its next five games at Clyde Berry Field, beginning with a four-game series against Northwest Missouri State.

Baseball's four-game weekend begins with a Friday doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. against Northwest Missouri. The Reddies will then face the Bearcats two more times Saturday at 12 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.

REDDIES REPORT (2-1, 0-0 GAC)
Henderson State's 2-1 weekend was highlighted with a 17-2 victory against Northeastern State in HSU's home opener to cap off the 2024 Dugan Invitational. The Reddies recorded 20 hits in the win, marking their most hits in a single game since Feb. 27, 2022, and its largest margin of victory since last season's 19-0 win over East Central.

Infielder Kaden Argenbright and starting pitcher Ryan Galvan were each selected to the Dugan Invite All-Tournament Team. Argenbright went 4-for-10 at the plate with a home run and four runs scored while slugging .700 across the three games. Galvan earned the win in the opener against Rogers State, pitching 5.2 innings with a 0.00 ERA and recording four strikeouts.

Outfielders Louis Holt and true freshman Jordan Allen delivered terrific opening weekend performances. Holt closed the trio of games with the best batting average of anyone on the team who had appeared in all three games, hitting .600 with three hits, four runs scored and two RBI. Holt also worked four walks for a .700 on-base percentage. Allen, in his first three collegiate games ever, tallied four hits on eight at-bats (.500) with four runs scored and two RBI.

The aforementioned Galvan led a Reddie pitching staff that held a 4.12 ERA through the season's first three games. Reese Weaks started the final contest of the opening weekend, earning a no-decision after throwing 4.0 innings and giving up just two earned runs before Mitchell Szczygiel (1-0) claimed the win in relief, throwing 2.0 innings without giving up a hit. Henry Coppens earned a two-inning save in the opener against Rogers State, pitching two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.

From 2021-23, Henderson State is 62-18 (.775) at Clyde Berry Field - the highest home win percentage of any GAC team. During that time, the Reddies have only lost six non-conference games on their home turf. This weekend will be the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st all-time meeting with Northwest Missouri State as HSU leads the current series, 9-8.    

SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE (2-2, 0-0 MIAA)
Off a 13-34 campaign last season, Northwest Missouri State comes to Arkadelpha with a 2-2 record in 2024 after splitting a four-game series with Christian Brothers. After losing the first game, NWMSU won the next two, including a 15-4 victory in game three, before falling in extra innings in the final game of the series, 8-7.

Seniors Noah Bodenhausen and Caden Diel, who played in just 31 and 27 games last season, respectively, lead the Bearcats at the plate after opening weekend. Bodenhausen claimed six hits in three games for a .500 batting average while Diel is also hitting .500 with five hits in four appearances, including three RBI. Cole Slibowski, who was one of Northwestern's best hitters last season, is currently for the team lead with six RBI.

Northwestern Missouri's four starting pitchers all have an ERA of 5.79 or higher, led by senior righty Casey Stalzer (1-0), who has thrown a team-high 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts and four walks with opposing batters hitting .250 off him in his one appearance.