Tweet #theGAC  ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State set a single-game record for home runs in a GAC Baseball Championship game en route to a 13-5 win against top-seeded Southern Arkansas on Thursday from Clyde Berry Field. The Reddies hit five home runs in the contest.
 
In a matchup that featured a pair of the GAC’s four First-Team pitchers, the Reddies (31-19) struck early against SAU hurler Dalton Algiene. They touched him up for single runs in three of his four innings of work. Hayden Lessenberry hit the first home run with a drive over the fence in left as the game’s second hitter. An inning later, the Reddies made it 2-0 when Nolan Ryan bunted home Colton Coffman.
 
Ryan hit Henderson State’s second home run of the game when he lifted a solo shot out to left field. The Reddies then took advantage of the Mulerider (38-13) bullpen, scoring 10 times in the final four innings. A Lessenberry double and a Jordan Taylor triple increased the Reddie lead to 5-1 in the sixth inning. Taylor homered, but only received credit for a triple as on appeal, the umpires ruled he failed to touch home plate.
 
In the seventh, the Reddies struck for four more runs. Coffman delivered a two-run home run; Turner Sparks added an RBI single and Alan Hall produced a sacrifice fly.
 
SAU chased GAC Pitcher of the Year Bryant Haralson in its half of the seventh inning. Trevor Rucker, the GAC Player of Year and Mark Fontenot hit back-to-back home runs get back the four runs it allowed.
 
Henderson State answered back with a two-run Parker Jones home run in the eighth inning and two more runs in the ninth. Kearon Redmon led off the frame with a home run and Taylor added his second RBI of the game.
 
The Reddies totaled 20 hits, led by a 4-for-5 night from Jones. Ryan added three hits.
 
Haralson, who overcame being struck in the face by a throw from his catcher, Sparks, intended for second base after a missed catch on a bunt in the second inning, picked up his second win at the GAC Championships as he allowed the five runs in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out seven and walked only one in improving to 10-3. His strikeout count increased to 112, tied for the second-most in league history.
 
Henderson State will face third-seeded Arkansas-Monticello at 4:30 p.m. on Friday with a spot in the title game stake. One year ago, the Weevils defeated the Reddies in the GAC Championship final. Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas will play an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Both games air on GACSportsNetwork.com