By David Salley
HSU Sports Information

ARKADELPHIA — Fresh off of the 2021 GAC Tournament title, Henderson State’s baseball program was ranked No. 18 nationally in the 2022 Collegiate Baseball Preseason DII Poll on Tuesday. 

The Reddies, who won 27 games last spring and captured the program’s first conference title since 1982, will bring back a plethora of pieces from its championship team in 2022. GAC Tournament MVP and First Team All-Conference starter Spencer Taack returns, as do Henderson’s top two hitters, junior first baseman Greyson Stevens and sophomore third baseman Kaden Argenbright. 

HSU also brings back one of the top outfields in the league with All-GAC Tournament picks Bryson Haskins and Nick Butler both back for their senior seasons, as well as sophomore slugger Alec Lewis.  Seniors Brayden Bebee and Cade Tucker will headline a bullpen that will feature depth and experience after last year’s postseason run. 

The preseason No. 18 national ranking is the second-highest in school history for the Reddies. Henderson was No. 16 in the 2016 Collegiate Baseball Poll after advancing to the DII College World Series in the spring of 2015.

HSU begins its 2022 campaign and GAC title defense on Feb. 3 when it faces Missouri Western at the Dugan Invitational in Hot Springs.