SAU Sports Information
EMPORIA, Kan. – A late push by the Southern Arkansas Muleriders (39-16) fell a run short as they were eliminated from the 2017 NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament after losing to Arkansas-Monticello (33-20) by a score of 5-4 Friday afternoon at Glennen Field.
UAM scored the game’s first run with a single tally in the bottom of the second. An inning later, the Boll Weevils went up 3-0 as Seth Wagner hit a two-run home run out to left field.
In the next inning, UAM got back-to-back doubles with two outs to score twice more and go up 5-0.
After the second of those doubles, SAU turned to their bullpen and All-Central Region First-Team reliever, Makenzy Larsen. Larsen induced a pop out to third base to end the inning.
In the next half inning, SAU got on the board and pulled to within a pair of runs, 5-3, as Cortland McPherson crushed a two-out, three-run homer out to right-centerfield. Prior to McPherson’s blast, Michael Page had led off with a single and two batters later, consensus Central Region Player of the Year, Trevor Rucker single to centerfield.
That score would hold until the top of the ninth when the Muleriders put together their final push in the game.
In that inning, Rucker picked up his fourth hit of the game as he single to centerfield with one out. Rucker then stole second base, his second of the game and 20th of the season. With Rucker in scoring position, Jacob Richardson hammered a double to left-centerfield, plating Rucker and pulling the Muleriders to within a run, 5-4.
During the next at-bat, UAM tried to pick Richardson off from second, but interference by the Boll Weevils’ shortstop allowed Richardson to get to third base as the potential tying run with less than two outs.
Richardson would be stranded there, however, as UAM closer Dawson Moser got the next two Muleriders out to preserve the win for the Boll Weevils, 5-4.
All-Central Region starting pitcher Dalton Algiene got the start and pitched 3.2 innings in the loss. In his final time on the mound as a Mulerider, Algiene allowed seven hits, five runs, and struck out three.
Algiene’s final season stat line saw the senior Watauga, Texas native go 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA. In 81.1 innings pitched, Algiene struck out 95 and limited opposing batters to a .233 average.
Makezy Larsen also made his final appearance as a Mulerider and the senior sidewinding right-hander was stellar once again. In the game, Larsen pitched 4.1 innings and allowed no runs on just two hits while striking out two.
Larsen’s final season stat line saw him go 5-0 with a microscopic 0.66 ERA. Making 24 appearances (all in relief), Larsen pitched 41.0 innings and struck out 32. Having only given up five runs (three earned) all year, Larsen limited opponents to a .158 average.
The Muleriders had 12 hits in the game and had at least one hit in all but one inning.
Three Muleriders had multiple hits in the game with Trevor Rucker leading the way with a 4-for-5 effort. The senior also scored twice to pace the team. Additionally, Rucker stole a pair of bases to give him 20 on the year.
Rucker is now the only player in all NCAA college baseball with 20 doubles, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases.
Cortland McPherson and Jacob Richardson had extra-base hits with McPherson leaving the yard for the 12th time, while Richardson hit his 17th double.
Rucker’s two other classmates in the lineup also had hits in the game with Josey Langston going 1-for-3 and Michael Page 1for-4.