COVERAGE LINKS
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State softball will cross Highway 67 on Tuesday for a doubleheader showdown with rivals Ouachita Baptist. The first pitch for the twin bill starts at 4 p.m. from "Petesy" Langston Softball Field.
REDDIES REPORT
Henderson State (10-13, 2-7) battled with No. 22 in Saturday's doubleheader, but the nationally ranked Muleriders would find a way to pull out wins in both games. HSU took SAU to extra innings in game one, but a two-run homer in the top of the eighth clinched the win for Southern Arkansas, who would win the second game 3-1. SAU would complete the sweep on Sunday with a 9-0 victory in five innings.
The Muleriders' pitching staff limited HSU's opportunities at the plate, as Henderson recorded 13 hits across the weekend.
Hilary Akers led the team at the plate with four hits on nine plate appearances, with a home run in the second game.
Emylee Bittinger saw a multi-hit game in the first contest, going 2-of-4 with an RBI.
Meagan Allen got the start in the circle in game one and delivered 8.0 innings of work and allowed six hits and four runs. Allen has seen the most action this season with 36.1 frames pitched over 13 appearances and is second on the team in strikeouts with 20.
Brooke Johnson remains the top arm for the Reddies bullpen with a 2.81 ERA and 21 strikeouts through 25.2 innings.
Errors were costly for HSU in the first two games against Southern Arkansas, recording five over the doubleheader, and the team would finish six for the series. The Reddies have committed the second most errors in the conference, with 27 on the year which sees them rank ninth in fielding percentage (.961). Two errors by the red-and-grey in the second game resulted in SAU plating two of its three runs.
Last season, Henderson went 2-1 against Ouachita Baptist, as they swept the Tigers at home in a doubleheader before falling on the road. The Reddies trip to "Petsey" Langston Softball Field has not been an easy journey, with one win in their last four visits. Since the formation of the GAC, Henderson is 24-18 against OUA in conference games and has won three of the last five meetings.
SCOUTING OUACHITA BAPTIST
Ouachita Baptist is coming off a 1-5 week after falling to then No. 10 Mississippi College in the midweek and dropped the weekend series to Arkansas Tech 2-1. The Tigers share a similar conference record with the Reddies at 2-7 and hold an overall record of 4-18.
Ouachita Baptist infielder Erin Williams leads the efforts at the plate with 26 hits and a .413 batting average and has recorded five doubles, three triples, and two home runs. The Senior is also tied with sophomore infielder Remington Adams for a team-high 15 RBIs. As a unit, OUA ranks 12th in the league in batting with a .251 batting average.
Hannah Hunter has been one of the Tigers' most used arms this season with 11 appearances, including a team-high ten starts. Hunter leads OUA with 18 punchouts in 42.1 innings of work, and batters are hitting .378 against the senior. Tuesday Melton has seen the most action in the circle this season, with 13 appearances and has struck out 15 and allowed 46 hits during in 31.2 inning. Ouachita Baptist enters the Tuesday doubleheader against the Reddies with a 7.50 team ERA, which ranks 12th across the league.
