MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Coming into the day, No. 7 Southern Arkansas was 9-0 in GAC play. The Reddies put an end to that perfect record with a 7-3 game-one victory before the Muleriders evened up the series with a 5-1 victory in the latter game.

Henderson State (11-11, 6-5 GAC) outhit SAU in both contests, claiming at least seven hits in both games against one of the league's best pitching staffs. Logan Cowart led the way at the plate for the visitors, recording two hits in each outing to finish his day a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and two walks.

In the opener, Henry Coppens delivered his second save of the season, pitching the final three innings without allowing a single hit. Kyle Williams (3-1) got the win on the mound after going 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while tallying six strikeouts.

Henderson St. will return to Goodheart Field in Magnolia, Ark., tomorrow for the rubber match at 3 p.m. 

GAME ONE: Henderson State 7, No. 7 Southern Arkansas 3
No. 7 Southern Arkansas got on the board before HSU put up two runs in the second. Cowart's first of his four hits came with on a two-out single to right center, which scored Nate Moore and Luke Rice for the 2-1 lead.

Williams allowed just two Mulerider hits over the next four innings, allowing HSU to put together another two-run frame in the fourth. After Cowart delivered his third RBI of the contest on a sacrifice fly, Kaden Argenbright sent one of his two hits to right field, scoring Cal Jones for HSU's fourth run of the afternoon.

The score remained 4-1 before Southern Arkansas saw its first crooked number in the home-half of the sixth to cut the Reddie lead to one. A single run in the seventh for Henderson extended the lead to two, 5-3, before Coppens entered the game in the bottom of the seventh.

Immediately, Coppens struck out two SAU batters before issuing a three-up, three-down seventh. Another quick frame in the eighth opened the gate for HSU to add two insurance runs in the ninth thanks to two hits and two SAU fielding errors for the 7-3 lead. A ground-out and two fly-outs later gave HSU the game-one victory.

GAME TWO: No. 7 Southern Arkansas 5, Henderson State 1
Southern Arkansas did not see its first hit until the third inning, but four of SAU's five runs came before the fourth inning was finished. A three-run homer from the Muleriders in the fourth dealt a heavy blow to a Reddie offense that could not muster but one run.

Despite Henderson having four hits in the first five innings, the first HSU player did not come around to home plate until the sixth frame. At that point, SAU had managed to open a 5-0 lead, making the most of its four hits in the seven-inning contest.