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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henderson State breaks from conference play while still seeing an all-too familiar foe in the Ouachita Baptist Tigers Tuesday, Mar. 5. First pitch from Rab Rodgers Field across Highway 7 is set for 2 p.m.
REDDIES REPORT (10-9, 5-4 GAC)
Henderson State was able to take one game this past weekend against Arkansas Tech before dropping its first GAC series of the season, two games out of three. The Reddies, who are now 5-4 in conference play, which is currently tied for fourth in the league, and 10-9 overall, are now set to play their next five games away from Clyde Berry Field.
Pitching was the theme of this past weekend as the winners of the weekend were largely determined on the mound. For Henderson,
Reese Weaks started game two, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings while recording seven strikeouts to just four walks and three allowed hits. After walking two of the first four Wonder Boy batters, Weaks settled in and struck out the next three while working all seven of his strikeouts to just two walks over the next 6.2 innings as HSU took the win, 7-1.
Arkansas Tech's pitching owned the day in the opener and the finale. In game one of the series, the Reddies were shut out, only seeing three hits to ATU's nine, as Tech claimed the 9-0 victory. In the rubber match, HSU once again was held to just three hits as the Wonder Boys combined to throw eight strikeouts as the red-and-gray did not get their first hit until the bottom of the fourth inning.
The reigning GAC Pitcher of the Week is currently fifth in the league with an ERA of 2.39 and is leading all conference pitchers with opposing batters hitting just .140 off him. At the plate, hits-leader
Luke Rice is tenth in the GAC with 24 hits while also being tenth in walks (12) as he is carrying a .459 on-base percentage, second to
Louis Holt among batters with at least 30 at-bats this season.
Kaden Argenbright is eighth in RBI (19) and fourth in doubles (7).
Henderson has fared well over at Rab Rodgers Field the last several years, winning seven of the last 10 meetings on the Tigers' home field. Last year in the season finale among the purple-and-gold faithful, the Reddies took two of three in the series against then-No. 26 Ouachita Baptist. In the course of the three games,
Logan Cowart hit .400 (4-for-10) while scoring three runs with one RBI and a walk.
SCOUTING OUACHITA BAPTIST (8-8, 5-4 GAC)
Ouachita Baptist has started off the 2024 campaign in similar fashion to Henderson State as both teams have won two of their three GAC series'. Most recently, Ouachita took two games against Arkansas-Monticello at Rab Rodgers Field for the series win. After dropping game one in 13 innings, 4-3, the Tigers responded by winning game two, 10-2, before taking the rubber match, 1-0.
Tuesday will be OUA's eighth consecutive home contest, where it is 4-3 during that stretch. The Tigers are 4-3 at home this season compared to 1-5 in true road games and 3-0 in neutral site contests. Both of Ouachita Baptist's GAC series wins have come at home.
Through 16 games, Ouachita is batting .252, which is 11th in the conference, but hold a team-ERA of 4.37, which is third in the league. In Ouachita's one midweek game this season, Hayden Childers got the start before picking up the loss to Delta State after throwing 2.0 innings, allowing three runs and four hits. Also making an appearance in that midweek contest was Kyzer Smith, who has made four appearances this season all in relief, allowing just three hits and one run.
