Tweet #theGAC  ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - For the third straight year Henderson State will play in the Great American Conference Baseball Championship as the Reddies eliminated No. 14 Southern Arkansas 9-5, Saturday at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia.

The Reddies, 32-20 on the year, lost earlier in the day to Arkansas-Monticello. The two teams will meet for the second straight year in the championship game with Henderson having to win twice to claim the title. First pitch for Sunday's GAC Championship is set for Noon at Clyde Berry Field.

In the second game for the Reddies on Saturday, SAU put together three straight hits in the first-inning to take a 1-0 lead with Jacob Richardson driving in Trevor Rucker with a single to left field.

The Muleriders, 39-14 on the year, increased the lead to 3-0 in the third frame as Mark Fontenot hit a two-run blast to left field which brought home Rucker who doubled prior to Fontenot's homer.

Henderson got back in the game in the fourth-inning as Jordan Taylor led off the inning with his eighth home run on the season to put the Reddies on the board.

Colton Coffman then reached on a one-out walk followed by a Texas League base hit by Joe Myers to centerfield. With two outs, Dylan McClain laced a shot to straight away centerfield with Mulerider Blake Hall losing his footing as the ball dropped for a double and plate both Coffman and Myers to tie the score at 3-3.

Southern Arkansas regained the lead in the top of the fifth-inning as Rucker hit his fourth home run of the tournament to give the Muleriders a one run advantage.

Henderson would strike again with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to answer the Muleriders.

Alan Hall led off the inning with a bunt single followed by Hayden Lessenberry reaching on a walk. After the two advanced on a ground out by Taylor, Jones would hit into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning.

Coffman then took Jacob Stoder's first offering up the middle to drive in two runs to put the Reddies back up by a run. However, Henderson wasn't done as Joe Myers walked with both runners advancing on a wild pitch.

Nolan Ryan then stepped to the plate and had one of the best at bats of the game as the junior fought off nine pitches and then delivered a single back up the middle that scored both runners to put the Reddies on top 7-4 through five innings.

SAU would score a run in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-5.

With the Reddies clinging to a two-run lead with two-outs in the inning, starting pitcher Chris Hunt was replaced by Jay Hawley. SAU had runners on the corners, but Hawley got Henderson out of the inning as Blake Hall flew out to Joe Myers to end the inning.

The Reddies would manufacture two runs in the eighth-inning as Kearon Redmon led off with a walk followed by Brentten Scwaabb reaching when he was hit by a pitch. Hall then reached on a sacrifice bunt as SAU relief pitcher Makenzy Larsen threw the ball away which allowed Redmon to score.

The Reddies again loaded the bases and the second run scored on a Jones fielder's choice which allowed Hall to score.

Blake Patterson entered the game on the mound to begin the seventh and would strike out five batters while holding the Muleriders scoreless the final three innings to pick up his GAC leading 13th save and help Hunt improve to 7-5 on the year.

Hall had two hits for the Reddies while Coffman, Ryan, and McCain drove in two runs each.