ARKADELPHIA, Ar. — This season's opening schedule is no slouch.

Griffon Baseball was hanging with undefeated No. 18 Henderson State for a while, but late home runs helped the Reddies win 11-2 on Saturday, handing the MWSU their third loss against a ranked opponent.

The Reddies looked like they were going to jump on pitcher Zack Cushing early. Henderson State led off the bottom of the first with a double and walk that eventually helped load the bases. Cushing recorded two outs but eventually walked the first run of the game in, putting the Reddies up 1-0 early. 

After back-to-back three-up-three-down innings, the Griffons finally found their groove in the fourth. After two MWSU strikeouts, junior Hunter Rumachik slapped a single to center field. After a walk by junior Will Courtney, sophomore Brenden Andersen doubled in Rumachik to tie the game at 1-1. The Griffons eventually struck out and left two on base. 

Cushing pitched well early against the No. 18 team in the DII nation, only allowing one hit through four innings. However, his five walks came back to bite him. After a leadoff walk in the fifth, the wheels started to shake with the Reddies pouncing with a fielder's choice, error and double to go up 4-1. 

Junior David Steffen relieved Cushing in the sixth and walked the leadoff batter. Moments later, Reddies catcher David Vilches cranked a home run to center field, putting Henderson State up 6-1. 

The Griffons made things interesting in the eighth, loading the bases thanks to back-to-back walks by senior Brady Holden and sophomore Jared Funk and a single by Crouch. Rumachik struck out next, but Courtney came through with an RBI single to center. With two outs and the bases loaded, Andersen struck out, leaving the Griffons still down but now at 6-2.

The eighth inning is when the wheels fell off. Henderson State slammed back-to-back homers, including a second one from Vilches. The Reddis ran up the score to 11-2 and held the Griffons in the ninth for the win.

Box Score

Next Up

The team's finale in Arkadelphia doesn't get any easier, as MWSU will play Southern Arkansas University (3-1) for the second time this season tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The Muleriders beat Missouri Western with a 12-0 no-hitter to open the 2022 season on Feb. 6.