Conway, Ark.- After their second consecutive SAA sweep and the winners of the past 10, the Warrior baseball team opened Spring Break with a two day series against Grinnell College. The Warriors would take care of business, getting the 2 game sweep, extending their win streak to 12, matching their longest win streak since opening the 2022 season with 12 consecutive wins.

Game 1 (W, 12-2)

Grinnell would start the scoring in this matchup off with a run in the first, but the Warriors would shut the doors for the Pioneers early, scoring 5 unanswered across the first three innings. 

The Warriors would get on the board with a bases loaded HBP that would score Austin Rabago in the 2nd. The Warriors would find themselves in the same situation in the 3rd with Hogan Ralston scoring thanks to Rabago getting a bases loaded HBP RBI. Joseph Watts would tack on three more runs with a 3 RBI double a couple batters later to give the Warriors the commanding 5-2 lead. 

After giving up another score in the 4th on a wild pitch, Owen Shaw would bring two more across the board with a 2 RBI double in the 4th. Going into the 7th with a 8-2 lead thanks to a SAC Fly by Drake Job in the 6th, the Warriors would put Grinnell out of their misery with 4 more runs to end the game in the 7th 12-2. 

Dylan Kalmus was the winning pitcher, going 6 full allowing 2 runs, both earned, on 6 hits with 6 punch outs. Hendrix Career Strikeout Leader, Jack Hodgins, put hold the Pioneers in their place pitching 1 inning only giving up two hits, but striking out two. 

Game 2 (W, 11-8)

After a dominating performance in the first matchup, the Warriors looked to tie their longest win streak since 2022, looking to take down Grinnell again, however for the Warriors it would prove to not be as easy as the day before. 

The Warriors would find themselves in a deep hole early in the matchup, giving up 4 runs in the first inning to start the game off. Hendrix would answer back with a Drake Job RBI single, an Owen Shaw 2 RBI single & a RBI from Alex Musel to tie the game at 4. 

The Warriors would add two more to the board in the 4th thanks to a Joseph Watts score on a wild pitch and a SAC Fly from Adam Bland to give Hendrix the 6-4 lead. Grinnell would claw back adding 1 to the board in the 6th, but the Warriors would turn around and pile on 4 runs in the home half of the 6th, giving the Warriors the 10-5 lead going into the 7th. The Warriors would give up two more runs across the last three innings, but it would prove to be too little too late, as Hendrix got the victory 11-8.

Ryan Torres got the win, going 3.2 innings after coming into the 1st, allowing three hits but negating the Pioneers from pushing the lead any further. 

Hogan Ralston entered the record books in game 2 for Hendrix, walking 5 times in one game breaking the previous record of 4. It puts Ralston at 29 walks on the season, leading Division III & Division I. 

Next Up for the Warriors:

Hendrix will hit the road to Memphis to take on rival Rhodes. The Warriors lost the series to the Lynx last season 1-2. First pitch is scheduled Friday at 3:00 PM.