INDEX Events Comics COVID Update Sports
No. 3
Vol. 2
2 3 3 4
May 27, 2021
A Brief History of the Half-Cent Sales Tax Blanton Matthews Staff Reporter
Photo by Blanton Mattthews
Voting on the tax initiative and the proposed bypass is Tuesday, June 8. Early voting runs June 1-4 and Monday, June 7.
The Clark County Strategic Planning Initiative was introduced in 2007, including a sales tax increase that was approved by voters on June 12 of that year by a count of 1,755 for and 804 against. The tax, half a penny on every dollar, went to incentivize companies to open plants in the county. It was intended to be a temporary measure to jumpstart the local economy and reverse negative trends in employment figures and population. In the following year, Alumacraft expanded its Arkadelphia plant both in physical size and by adding 15 new employees, and Hitco Carbon Composites (now SGL) opened a plant in the Clark County Industrial Park, hiring 60 workers. Most of the money—70% to be precise—collected from the tax goes into municipal capital expenditures, buying and maintaining infrastructure to entice businesses to locate or expand in Clark County. Advocates for the renewal of the tax say that the un-
employment rate in Clark County being lower than surrounding counties and a 20% average increase since 2011 in manufacturing wages compared to a national 8% average increase are directly linked to the introduction of the sales tax. The tax was supposed to sunset after seven years, but Clark County voters chose to renew it in 2014 for another seven, rescheduling its expiration for 2021, hence the new vote to renew it. However, this vote will renew it for 15 years, rather than another seven, sunsetting in 2036. This time, the tax renewal shares the ballot with a new bond that would be paid for by the tax. If both measures are approved by Clark County voters, $8 million from the tax will go to the bond to fund a truck bypass that should improve traffic in the downtown area by routing big trucks past downtown. The bond is also the reason for the tax being up for a 15 year renewal as opposed to another seven, as bonds for 15 years have a lower interest rate. Opponents argue that the retention of the tax, specifical-
ly as for the bypass, is unnecessary. Justin Gonzales, state Representative for the 19th District, says that any slow traffic that could be sped up with trucks rerouted around downtown Arkadelphia is not worth the $8 million price tag that the tax would go toward. “In the last few years, businesses in the area have worked hard to improve downtown,” Gonzales said. “And bypassing downtown would hurt those businesses.” Dr. Wesley Kluck, co-chair of Clark County Strategic Plan, says on his Facebook page that the bypass is necessary because one log truck passed through town every five minutes, and that Arkadelphia is the second most expensive areas per highway mile for trucks to pass through in the United States per ARDOT and US Bureau of Labor statistics. Also, despite some misconceptions to the contrary, the bypass will not happen without Clark County voters electing for both the renewal of the tax and the new accompanying bond. Early voting is open from June 1-4, then again on June 7, and election day is June 8.
United Way of the Ouachitas Offers Financial Courses to Surrounding Areas Keyuna Thrower Contributing Writer United Way of the Ouachitas in Hot Springs offers free online financial courses to everyone in the area surrounding Garland County, including residents of Clark County. The Financial Empowerment Classes, or FEC, are partnering with local financial institutions to help the community reach their financial goals. “Because we all know financial independence is security,” said Sarah Fowler, the executive director of United Way of the Ouachitas. “And security makes us all feel better.”
If you have a phone or laptop, then you can attend these classes. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 10 and Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 unless stated otherwise. All courses are virtual and you must download the application to attend. The non-profit organization wants to reach the community, specifically where COVID-19 has impacted many people. Not only do they provide free classes but also offer assistance in securing food, shelters and much more. “Our goal is to really educate those in the Ouachitas region with the right
financial tools to make better financial decisions on behalf of themselves and their families,” said Fowler. The United Way Worldwide, and their partner agencies’, service area includes Garland, Montgomery, Polk, Clark, Hot Spring, Pike, and Saline counties. For more information visit their website at www.unitedwayouachitas.org. To sign up for any of the classes, please call 501-623-2505 or email Sarah Fowler at sarah. fowler@local.unitedway. org to reserve your space.
Photo Courtesy of United Way
United Way of the Ouachitas is a nonprofit based in Hot Springs with the goal of helping local residents to achieve financial security and literacy.
Say What? HSU No Longer Offers French or German Lance Brownfield Editor-in-Chief Henderson’s budget may be on the way to recovery, but the effects of the crisis are still being felt in many departments. The department of English, Philosophy and Foreign Language has lost several key instructors and courses. One of the biggest losses to the foreign language department can be felt in the French and German programs. When Dr. Val Gudrian, who taught both languages, retired last May, the university replaced her with adjunct professors. With concerns over the budget, Henderson decided not to hire for these positions for the upcoming school year.
“We hoped we would be able to hire a replacement in her position and continue offering those languages,” said Dr. Angela Boswell, the dean of Ellis College of Arts and Sciences. Because the university’s foreign language courses require students to stick with one language for four semesters, students who have already taken French 1 and 2 or German 1 and 2 will be allowed to finish their program of choice. Students will not be allowed to start French or German from this point on, however. This means that students at Henderson only have one choice to meet their foreign language requirements. Spanish is the only offering
available for the time being. “As we always have, we will be glad to accept transfer credit from another university for Spanish, German, or French,” Boswell said. “We have not yet discussed if we will accept other languages transferred in from other universities.” There are still many unknowns with the future of Henderson’s foreign language department, but the requirement remains for many seeking a degree at the institution. Even though Henderson has recently aligned with the ASU system, there is no online offering for Henderson students to take in place of Spanish. In an ever-shrinking world, languages like French and German have
become important in many career fields. German is especially useful in the world of business and trade, while French can be of use to missionaries, artists and many others. Spanish is certainly the most common second language in North America. It is a very handy language
to learn and it’s a good thing that Henderson still offers it. Henderson looks to teach German and French again whenever they are in a better place financially. Then maybe to expand the language department to its former glory, teaching other tongues such as
Japanese or Russian. Unfortunately, for now students are left with just Spanish in the course catalog. Perhaps the ASU system will help Henderson regain financial stability in the near future, so Henderson can resume teaching German and French.
Photo by Lance Brownfield
HSU will no longer offer French or German courses due to a reduction in the foreign language department.
From Weather.com
FRI - May 28 scattered thunderstorm
SAT - May 29 scattered thunderstorm
SUN - May 30 partly cloudy
MON - May 31 partly cloudy
TUE - June 01 mostly cloudy
WED - June 02
THU - June 03
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scattered thunderstorms
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Precipitation: 43% Wind: WNW 5 mph Humidity: 81%
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Precipitation: 22% Wind: SE 4 mph Humidity: 64%
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2 News
Thursday, May 27, 2021
It’s Time to Get Back to Work Bruce Westerman AR State Representative For months we waited with bated breath as Operation Warp Speed spurred vaccine development and began distribution at record pace. Now, with the vast majority of Congress members and staff fully vaccinated, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi still refuses to end the harmful practices of proxy voting and remote committee hearings and remains defiant on masks on the House floor. Congress should be leading by example. That is why I led a letter with every member of the House Republican leadership and every House committee
ranking member asking Speaker Pelosi and Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer to end proxy voting and remote committee hearings. Over the last year, we were consistently given the directive to “follow the science.” Now, when the science doesn’t match her talking points, Speaker Pelosi decides to ignore it. Speaker Pelosi has admitted that at least 75% of Congress has been fully vaccinated, and the vaccines are available for free for any adult in America. How can Congress credibly encourage Americans to get back to work when members of Congress are unwilling to do their jobs? Remote committee hearings have significant
downsides. When members of Congress are unable to look each other in the eyes and speak to each other in-person, debate is not as effective, policies become more one sided, and the country suffers. If millions of fully vaccinated Americans can get back to work while following the CDC’s guidance, there’s no reason Congress can’t as well. Speaker Pelosi’s House of Representatives should be no different than every other state, city, and business. It is time to get back to work, and I hope to see every member of Congress on the first flight back to Washington, D.C., as soon as possible.
Custom Craft Poultry Brings Business to Little Rock Arkansas Economic Development Commission LITTLE ROCK – Custom Craft Poultry is opening a new poultry processing plant in Little Rock, the company announced today. The company has repurposed the former Odom’s Tennessee Pride sausage plant on Asher Avenue and invested nearly $10 million in the project. Through the company’s expansion into Little Rock, Custom Craft Poultry hopes to introduce new opportunities to the community, its employees, and its customers, according to CEO Randell Smith. “We are very proud of our facility in Batesville and look forward to the additional opportunities that Little Rock holds for team members and customers,” Smith said. “We are focused on providing the same quality and service our customers have grown to expect from our company. It will also provide a great employment opportunity for the people of Little Rock and surrounding areas.”
Custom Craft Poultry has been Arkansas-owned and operated since 2015 and seeks to provide its customers with the highest quality fresh and frozen poultry products. Its Batesville site currently produces approximately 60 million pounds of poultry each year. “It is always a great day when we see our homegrown businesses expand thanks to the hard work and dedication of their employees,” said Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “I’m pleased to welcome Custom Craft to Little Rock and wish them well in the future.” With this expansion, the company expects to increase employment by 290 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees in Batesville and Little Rock to nearly 500. Custom Craft Poultry boasts new job opportunities, a family environment, and flexible work schedules. “Poultry is a huge part of the economy in Arkansas,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “Custom Craft Poultry’s decision to expand into Little Rock demonstrates that local
businesses can grow and thrive here in The Natural State even when times seem tough. I congratulate them on this recent success.” The company’s new location in Little Rock will focus primarily on fresh chicken for food service and further processing. “We welcome Custom Craft Poultry as the newest member of Little Rock’s vibrant business community,” Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said. “They’re bringing high-quality jobs to an area of our City that needs more employment opportunity and repurposing an empty facility that will have a big impact on our effort to revitalize the Asher Avenue corridor. I am grateful for their investment and their friendship, and I look forward to working together to ensure the company’s success in Little Rock.” For more information regarding product or employment opportunities please contact Piper OrioDettling, Custom Craft Poultry Communications Department, at piper@ customcraftpoultry.com.
Eudora Man Wounded by Gunfire Following String of Auto Thefts Arkansas State Police Chicot County authorities have requested the Arkansas State Police to investigate the use of deadly force by two local law enforcement officers. A sheriff’s deputy and a Dermott police officer directed gunfire at the driver of a stolen Lake Village Police Department patrol vehicle about 3:30 p.m. last Friday. The incident occurred in Dermott as a suspect in a string of auto
thefts across Chicot County attempted to escape police and deputies who had converged on 501 West Daniels where the suspect had been seen moments earlier. Travis Haynes, 33, of Eudora, was apprehended about 3:45 p.m. after fleeing Dermott driving the police sport utility vehicle. As deputies and officers took Haynes into custody, they determined Haynes had sustained what appeared to be gunshot wounds to a leg. Hayes was transported to a
Chicot County hospital, but later moved to a Little Rock hospital. The wounds were initially assessed as being non-life threatening. Special Agents of the state police criminal investigation division will prepare an investigative file related to the shooting incident. The Chicot County prosecuting attorney will use the investigation to determine whether the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers was consistent with state laws.
Start of Summer Streaming Jaylon McEwen Staff Reporter Movie lovers can rejoice with the incoming wave of summer blockbusters flooding into HBO Max. For those wondering, HBO Max is the streaming platform that features not only HBO exclusive shows, but other select movies as well. On May 14 Max finally released the long awaited Angelina Jolie film, “Those Who Wish Me Dead.” This film marks Jolie’s first Max exclusive film and the first project she is set to star in for the year 2021. Jolie plays a smoke jumper named Hannah Faber who has just failed to save three young campers and a fellow coworker from an all-out forest fire. Later we meet
Connor, who is played by the young, up and coming Australian movie star Finn Little. A series of events occur throughout the movie that intertwine these two characters’ fates. A few recognizable names acting alongside Jolie in this film are Jon Bernthal (“The punisher”, “Fury”), Nicholas Hoult (Rebooted “X-Men” series), Aiden Gillen (“The Dark Knight Rises”, “Calvary”), and Tyler Perry (“Madea” franchise). The film was directed by actor/director Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan, who is most well-known for his portrayal of David Hale in the FX series “Sons of Anarchy”, marks this film as his eighth under the role as director.
“Those Who Wish Me Dead” falls under the three movie categories of Action, Drama, and Thriller. The project began production May 2019 in New Mexico and finally wrapped up in July 2019. The film has received overall mixed reviews but still managed to score a 60 percent grade on Rotten Tomatoes. For those who missed the film debut or simply do not prefer to go to a select theatre, the film is set to stream on Max through June 13, so there is still plenty of time left to catch it. For others who do not have an HBO Max subscription and do not want to fully commit, a seven-day free trial period is offered through a bundle deal with Hulu.
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Events Upcoming Events May 29-30 8 p.m. - 6 p.m. Ball Till You Fall Spring Madness - BALL HAWGZ Youth Basketball June 3 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Performing LIVE on the stage, The Rodney Block Collective, Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at 7th and Main Street. June 8 Voting on local economic development funding and moving Clark County forward. July 23 9 a.m. Willie Tate Golf Tournament Classic
Recurring Friday Night Magic The Gathering - Atlas Gaming ♦♦♦ Alcoholics Anonymous hosts two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. every Tues. in the Sturgis Building at North 9 and Caddo Streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group Meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. every Thurs. on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. ♦♦♦ The Arkadelphia Arts Center directors are looking forward to the day when we can open the doors to the public. Meanwhile, enjoy our rotating exhibits that may be seen through the window and glass door. For more information about the Arkadelphia Arts Center and the Caddo River Art Guild find their pages on Facebook or visit CaddoRiverArtGuild.com or CCAHC.org. ♦♦♦ With Late ‘til 8, local businesses stay open to 8:00 pm so that customers can shop and also win door prizes! this is a monthly event that happens every first Thursday of every month. ♦♦♦ Pediatrics Plus is excited to announce that our brand new facility is now open. Our new facility is located at 702 Hickory Street. The new facility offers includes a Developmental Preschool and Therapy Services that include: ABA, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. In addition, our brand new, state-of-the-art facilities include a House Next Door suite which offers a homey feel for children learning daily living activities like cooking, feeding therapy, making the bed, getting dressed, and more! Other features of the new facility include a new playground, gross motor gym, high stimulation and low stimulation gyms, and a library! Enroll Now to get a spot in our new location! ♦♦♦ Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: - Tues. at 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9 and Caddo. 870-403-2019; Thurs. at 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-403-2019; Fri. at noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512-750-2292.
Oracle:CE
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Page 3
Comic by Blanton Matthews
Pandemic Rental Assistance for Struggling Arkansans Asa Hutchinson AR Governor LITTLE ROCK – We opened Arkansas’s rentalassistance program this week, and today I’d like to talk about how we will help renters and landlords who are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. The Arkansas Department of Human Services will distribute $173 million in assistance through the Arkansas Rent Relief Program. That money is
coming from the $25 billion the U.S. Department of the Treasury has allocated for this fund nationally. The Department of Human Services began accepting applications on Monday, and the program will remain open through the end of this year. Payments will go to landlords, but a tenant and a landlord each must apply. The payments will cover 15 months of rent and utilities that were not paid from April 1, 2020, through December 31 of this year.
Of course, landlords must agree that they won’t evict a tenant before they can receive the money. To qualify, a renter must be a resident of Arkansas and a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a current residential lease or rental agreement. Renters also must meet one of these three criteria to qualify for aid: Someone in their home qualifies for unemployment benefits; their household income decreased because of the pandemic; or someone in their home has incurred sig-
nificant financial hardship because of the pandemic. In addition to meeting one of those three, the renter’s income must qualify for assistance. The assistance will pay for unpaid rent going back twelve months and up to three months in the future, as well as utility bills and late fees. The money will not cover costs of telephones, cable television, internet access, or mortgage payments. All payments will go directly to landlords and utility companies.
Arkansas Department of Health COVID-19 Update
You can learn more at ar.gov/RentRelief. As of midweek, DHS has received 94 matched applications that are now under review, and more than 400 applications are awaiting a match. We have other programs to help. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has $1.7 million left over from CARES Act funds, which has allowed us to extend the Winter Crisis Program. This will provide assistance for gas and electric bills up to $500 per quali-
fied household. We will give priority to applicants who did not receive assistance during the initial Winter Program. And DHS is also providing child care assistance for nearly 8,000 families of essential workers without regard to income. No one has escaped the touch of the pandemic, and as much as we are able, we want to soften the blow for those who have suffered significant financial hardship. These programs will help thousands of Arkansans regain their footing.
How to place Classified Ads in the
Send an ad with payment addressed to “Oracle” to 1100 Henderson Street Box 7693. Tell us how often the ad should run. Deadline for ads: For ad changes, to cancel ads; tell us by Thursday. The week before publication. No extra charge for bold or caps. Phone number and full name are one word. Cost: 25¢/word “$7/photo.” Call Reddie Media Group (RMG) at 870230-5220 or rmg@hsu.edu for a detailed rate card or any other questions. Ask us about our duration packages.
Arkansas Department of Health
According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, there are a total of 74,265 probable
cases in the state as of April 19. In reference to ADH’s graph, there are a total of 340,186 cases. There have been 240,521 individuals partially immunzed and 877,185 fully immunized.
Crites & Tackett Tree Service Tree removal, trimming, topping and stump removal. Free estimates, worker’s comp, and liability insurance. 501-337-1565 or 501-337-9094
The counties are colored by light to dark in terms of density of cases. The Dispatch will post an updated version of this graph weekly according to what is available from the Department of Health and state officials. Vaccines are now available for a limited amount of people. Baptist Health in Arkadelphia has been supplying shots for weeks for selected employees across town. Golf, softball, women’s volleyball, and basketball are in full swing, so sports teams are
keeping an eye on COVID guidelines. That’s not to say that there aren’t precautions, however, as games are being cancelled left and right to coincide with regulations. With Joe Biden as the new President of the United States and vaccines being given to those that meet the needed qualifications, things are changing week by week. People are encouraged to continue social distancing and staying at least six feet away from others. Testing is widely available in most cities.
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Editor in Chief: Lance Brownfield Ads Manager: Harley Whisenhunt Oracle Editor: Kaela McKim Sports Editor: Donovan Lee Staff Reporters: Phoebe Darley, Blanton Matthews, Tierra McCraney, Juliann Reaper, Aaron Weatherford, Jaylon McKewen, Madison Hardcastle, Haven Hughes Adviser: Steve Listopad
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4 Sports
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Oracle: CE
Reddies Earn No. 6 Seed, Face UCM in NCAA Regional HSU Sports GAC Tournament Champion Henderson State was tabbed as the No. 6 seed in the 2021 Central Regional on Sunday night, officially securing the program’s second-ever trip to the NCAA DII Tournament. The Reddies (26-17) will meet the top seeded hosts Central Missouri at 3 p.m. on Thursday in Warrensburg, Missouri. The Mules are the MIAA regular season and tournament champions and are currently the No. 2 ranked team in the country. Henderson, who completed a dream run to the GAC Tournament title on Tuesday afternoon, joins GAC rivals Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas, who received the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively. The GAC was the only league in the region to put three teams into the NCAA Tournament. No. 2 seed Augustana and No. 3 seed Minnesota State of the NSIC round out the six-team field. HSU’s only prior NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015 proved to be a crown-
Photo courtesy of HSUsports.com
The Reddies will face the University of Central Missouri today in the NCAA Regional.
ing moment for the program, as the Reddies went undefeated to capture the Central Region Championship and advance to the DII College World Series.
All the games of the 2021 NCAA Central Regional will be streamed live and available for free at hsusports.com. Additionally, a Henderson radio broadcast
of each game will be available on station 100.9 FM in Arkadelphia, 99.3 FM in Benton, 106.7 FM in Gurdon, 99.7 FM in Hot Springs and 104.1 FM in Malvern.
Tickets for Thursday’s opening round contest and all the games of the Central Regional go on sale tomorrow morning and can be purchased at the box of-
fice, which opens one hour prior to first pitch each day. There is no pass list for admission and no complimentary tickets for the regional tournament.
OBU’s Gaddie, Heckman Named Scholar All-Region OBU Tigers Erica Gaddie and Ashlyn Heckman have been named Scholar AllSouth Region by the United Soccer Coaches, as announced Thursday. The two Tigers were among the 14 honorees for the region. Gaddie, a senior from Meridian, Mississippi, finished her career with a 4.00 GPA in biology. She started all 12 of Ouachita’s games and was third in minutes played at 1,012. Heckman, a senior from Frisco, Texas, ended with a 3.63 GPA in business administration. She led the Great American Conference with six goals on the year, despite only six games played. Gaddie and Heckman were integral parts of Ouachita’s run to the 2020-21 GAC Tournament title. Photo courtesy of OBUtigers.com
Erica Gaddie and Ashlyn Heckman of OBU have been named Scholar All-South Region by the United Soccer Coaches.
Reddies Down Tech, Win 2021 GAC Tournament Crown HSU Sports
It has been nearly 40 years since Clyde Berry led the Reddies to the 1982 AIC baseball title. The long wait for the program’s next conference championship is now over. On the field that bears Berry’s name, No. 7 seed Henderson State completed one of the greatest Cinderella runs in league history on Tuesday and defeated
No. 1 seed Arkansas Tech 6-1 to win the 2021 Great American Conference Tournament title. The landmark victory gives HSU the program’s first conference championship in baseball in the NCAA era and clinches an automatic bid for the Reddies to the NCAA Central Regional Tournament in Warrensburg, Missouri on May 27-30. The Reddies, who became the lowest-seeded
team to ever win a GAC Tournament Championship in any sport, dispatched the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds on their way to the conference crown. Starter Spencer Taack, who was the GAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, stole the show for Henderson on Tuesday. Pitching on just three days rest, Taack went seven full innings for the Reddies against the conference’s regular-season champi-
Henderson beat Arkansas Tech 6-1 for their first GAC Tournament Crown since 1982.
ons and allowed one unearned run on four hits. The junior All-GAC First Teamer struck out four, walked three and threw 104 pitches in the longest outing of his career. Nick Butler led HSU’s efforts at the plate and finished 3-for-4. Six other players recorded one hit for the Reddies, including Danny Mitchell Jr., who scored two runs, and Bryson Haskins, who drove in three.
HSU took an early 1-0 lead in the championship game after two Tech errors helped plate a run. The Wonder Boys answered with the tying run in the bottom half but stranded two in scoring position. The contest became a pitcher’s duel after the pair of early scores. Taack and ATU’s Riyan Rodriguez were both excellent and traded four-straight scoreless innings to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Photo courtesy of HSUsports.com
The turning point came in the top of the sixth. A walk and a single put two runners on base for Henderson with one out, and Bryson Haskins made the Wonder Boys pay, as the Reddies’ reliable centerfielder delivered a threerun, no-doubt home run over the wall in left to make it 4-1. A stunned Arkansas Tech squad never recovered and failed to record a single hit in the final five innings of the title game. The Wonder Boys’ four hits matched their lowest offensive output in a game this season. Henderson, meanwhile, got a sac fly RBI from Kaden Argenbright in the seventh and a solo home run from Joe Myers in the top of the ninth to erase any doubt in the final result. Taylor Langston, in his final appearance at Clyde Berry Field, shut ATU down in order in the final two innings to set off a wild celebration for HSU. Six Reddies were named to the 2021 All-Tournament Team: Taack, Butler, Mitchell Jr., Haskins, Argenbright and Greyson Stevens. Henderson out-scored its three top-seeded opponents 31-8 during its GAC Tournament run. HSU’s pitching staff was superb and surrendered just 19 hits in 27 postseason innings.