MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Henderson State holds Southern Arkansas scoreless for 13 innings of doubleheader but drop Saturday slate.

Facing one of the top teams in the Great American Conference, Henderson State put up a valiant effort holding the explosive Muleriders offense to just one run in the first game of the series and zero runs through the first five innings in the second game of the day.

In a tightly contested pitchers' duel, the Reddies nearly held the powerful Mulerider offense in check before a ninth-inning home run proved to be the difference in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss.

Pitchers Meagan Allen and Makenna Keeton combined to stifle the SAU bats, allowing just six hits over the course of the game. Allen went 5.1 innings, throwing 100 pitches and allowing just three hits.

Henderson State managed five hits but struggled to push across a run against SAU. In the two-hole Justine Burch went 1-3 with a walk and Macy Hoskins added a double. SAU walked it off in the bottom of the ninth with a homerun.

The Reddies' best scoring chance came in the first inning when Hoskins roped a double, but the SAU defense held firm.

Henderson State struck first in the second game of the day, but a big sixth inning from Southern Arkansas powered the nationally ranked Muleriders to a 6-1 win and a series clinching win.

The Reddies got on the board in the third inning when Penelope Foote's sacrifice fly plated Jordyn Holland for a 1-0 lead. Holland led off the inning with a double and later advanced due to a wild pitch.

Brooke Johnson started in the circle for the Reddies, allowing just two runs before being replaced by Jersey Cabana in the sixth.

Holland led the Reddies at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored while Hoskins added her second double of the day in the fourth inning.

The Reddies will face the Muleriders again tomorrow in the season finale at 1 p.m. in Magnolia, Ark.