ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Rivals collide in Arkadelphia this weekend as Henderson State and Southern Arkansas meet in a pivotal three-game GAC series at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia.

Separated by just a single game in the conference standings, the Reddies and Muleriders will face off in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday and finish the series with a single nine-inning contest on Sunday at 1 p.m.

REDDIES REPORT
- Henderson State (17-13, 11-7) enters the crucial GAC weekend series on a tear that has put them in the mix atop the conference standings. The Reddies have won four-straight GAC weekend series over UAM, Harding, Oklahoma Baptist and SNU, and have also captured midweek victories each of the last two weeks on the road in Monticello against the Weevils and in Magnolia against SAU. Overall, HSU has won 12 of its last 16 games, including the last five in a row.

- The Reddies are currently in fifth place in a log-jammed league standings. Just two games separates second place Southern Arkansas (12-6) from seventh place Ouachita Baptist (10-8). Henderson has already claimed series victories over first place Harding (16-3) and fourth place UAM (12-7). HSU will face the other two programs slotted ahead of them each of the next two weekends in Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech (11-6).

- HSU is 1-0 against Southern Arkansas this year after winning the midweek contest on the road in Magnolia 15-10 last Tuesday. The Reddies won the GAC season series over the Muleriders in 2024 but were eliminated from the GAC Tournament by SAU in Arkadelphia. Henderson is 6-6 against Southern Arkansas overall since 2023.

- At the halfway point of the conference season, the Reddies have proven to be one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Henderson leads the GAC in team batting average (.315), hits (318), RBIs (209), total bases (497), runs scored (245) and doubles (65). HSU ranks third in the league in slugging percentage (.494). The Reddies have scored six or more runs in 11 consecutive games dating back to March 7 at Harding.

- Henderson boasts seven players who have played in 20 or more games that currently carry batting averages of .300 or better. The catalyst offensively has been senior second baseman Luke Farrar, who ranks second in the GAC in batting average (.392), hits (47), RBIs (36) and runs scored (36). Farrar was named the conference Player of the Week on Monday and hit his eighth home run of the year on Tuesday night at UAM. 

- Reddie catcher Jeremy Schork leads the GAC with 10 home runs on the season, which ranks 19th among all players in NCAA Division II. Schork is batting .319 on the year and is second on the team with 35 RBIs.

- Outfielder Jaxson Gregg has been hot at the plate over the last month and a half for Henderson. Gregg is riding a 10-game hitting streak and has recorded at least one hit in 19 of the Reddies' last 20 contests. He is second on the team with a .365 batting average and is tied for the team-lead with nine doubles this year. 

- As a team, Henderson State carries an ERA of 6.78, which ranks eighth in the GAC. Opponents are batting .283 against the Reddies this season. Against conference opponents, the team ERA drops to 5.31. 

- In GAC play, Friday night starter Reese Weaks has been phenomenal. Weaks has a .281 ERA and 4-1 record in six starts and is limiting opponents to a .178 average at the plate. 

- Right-hander Cole Rodriguez is unbeaten in conference action with a 4-0 record in six starts. Rodriguez has a 3.68 ERA for the season in a team-high 44 innings pitched.

- Senior closer Payton Byrd has been nails at the back end of the bullpen for Henderson State so far this season. Byrd leads the conference with seven saves, which ranks sixth nationally among all players in NCAA Division II.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
- The Muleriders enter the weekend series 19-11 overall and 12-6 in conference play —one full game ahead of Henderson State. SAU is on a four-game winning streak after they swept SWOSU last weekend and defeated No. 14 Delta State 8-3 on Tuesday in non-conference play.

- SAU is hitting .298 as a team and ranks second in the GAC in slugging percentage (.499). The Muleriders have hit 38 home runs this year and lead the conference with 14 triples.

- Southern Arkansas has a strong pitching staff that carries a 5.24 ERA collectively, which ranks third overall in the GAC. Opponents are hitting just .257 against SAU and the Muleriders are second in the league in strikeouts (247) and first in strike outs looking (90).

- Lee Matsuzaki has been the top hitter in the SAU lineup and leads the team with a .365 batting average, 46 hits, 13 doubles and 32 RBIs. Jayden Hill and Brandon Nicoll are batting .313 and .310, respectively, and have each driven in 24 runs on the year. Nicoll has a team-high seven home runs.

- Seasoned veteran pitcher Jeremy Adorno is the workhorse of the pitching staff for the Muleriders. Adorno boasts a 4.20 ERA in 49.1 innings and is second in the GAC with 55 strikeouts on the year. Austin Adair has been the top reliever out of the bullpen for SAU and has a 3.13 ERA and 6-1 record in 15 relief appearances.