ADA, Okla. - Henderson State combined for 19 runs on 21 hits in the opening-day doubleheader against East Central, posting 8-6 and 11-0 victories to claim the series win on the first day of the weekend series.

Kyle Williams (4-1) and Andrew Howard (2-0) picked up wins on the mound in the two games as the duo combined for 10 strikeouts on the day. Williams got the start in the opener, going 6.1 innings while allowing four hits and four runs, three of which were unearned. Howard picked up the win in relief in game two, throwing five scoreless frames.

Logan Cowart had himself a big day in the Sooner State, closing the two contests with three hits and three RBI while scoring one run. All three of Cowart's hits came in the latter outing of the twin bill. In that same game, Dillon Thomas got on base four times, tallying two hits while also working two walks.

Kaden Argenbright extended his hit streak to eight games as the new all-time hits leader tied the program's career RBI record with a single in the second inning of the second game to score Cowart.

Henderson St. (16-14, 11-6 GAC) will meet East Central one last time for the series finale Sunday, Mar. 24 at 10 a.m. as HSU will go for its first GAC series sweep of the 2024 season.

GAME ONE: Henderson State 8, East Central 6
The Reddies started play with back-to-back hits, but it was East Central which would get on the scoreboard first, plating two runs in the bottom of the first. Henderson took the lead, however, with three consecutive runs across the second and third frame.

The Tigers knotted up play in the home-half of the third, 3-3, where it stood until the sixth inning. An RBI single from Landon Ervin in the sixth gave HSU the lead for good. The 4-3 lead turned into an 8-5 advantage with the red-and-gray putting up crooked numbers in the seventh and eighth frame.

Henry Coppens came to the mound in the bottom of the eighth, keeping HSU's lead intact. After relinquishing a quick single run in the eighth, Coppens sat down the final six Tigers batters in order for his team-high third save of the season.

GAME TWO: Henderson State 11, East Central 0
Henderson's defense issued seven strikeouts and stranded eight East Central base runners in the seven-inning outing. Ethan Perry got the first strikeout out of the way as ECU loaded the bases in their first at-bat before Perry found his way out of the early jam.

Howard relieved Perry after the first frame as allowed just five more ECU hits in his five innings of work. During the strong defensive showing, the Reddie offense put up at least two runs in each of the first four innings, including three straight three-run frames.

An 11-0 lead stayed on the side of the visitors the remaining three innings as Matthew Herron closed the game on the mound with the final three outs to give HSU the day-one doubleheader sweep.