No. 9 Southern Arkansas answered a two-run top of the first inning from visiting Ouachita on Tuesday at Goodheart Field with a three-run home half, but the Tigers added single runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings before engineering a five-run seventh en route to defeating the Muleriders 13-6 in non-conference play.
SAU remains home for a three-game GAC series this weekend against Southern Nazarene. Weather permitting, the two teams are scheduled to play Friday and Saturday.
Ouachita recorded 16 hits with five leaving the yard, while just two of SAU's eight knocks went for extra bases. The loss moves SAU to 16-6 overall with the Tigers improving to 11-10.
Will Richardson exited the yard with one out in the bottom of the first, giving the Muleriders an early 3-2 advantage. Solo home runs from the Tigers in the second, fourth and sixth innings highlighted the visitor's grabbing a 6-4 lead after six. A four-hit seventh by Ouachita, coupled with a SAU error, led to five runs with four plated with two outs in the frame and along with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings proved to be much needed insurance runs as the Muleriders recorded five ninth-inning hits plating two runs before leaving the bases loaded.
Nate June started for SAU working three innings and scattering five hits with four runs allowed. Chance Bolter worked the next 1.2 innings and the Muleriders used Hayden Hable, Jake Uber, Sean Sieve and Jaden Woolbright in the contest.
Richardson and Brandon Nicoll combined for half of SAU's eight hits as both players recorded their tenth multi-hit games. Richardson delivered four RBI to mark the third game this season with four or more runs batted in in a game. Trace Shoup singled in the ninth to run his reached base safely streak to 16 games. Chris Lyles and Nicoll scored twice.
No. 19 Lady Muleriders
shut out Cotton Blossoms
The 19th-ranked Lady Muleriders prevailed in both home contests against the UAM Cotton Blossoms by scores of 5-0 and 1-0 to move to 18-6 overall and 9-2 in the GAC.
Southern Arkansas is currently holding their position at second in the GAC standings as Oklahoma Baptist sits atop the league with a 10-0 conference record.
The Tuesday doubleheader was majorly highlighted by the pitching by both squads as there was a total of just 15 hits and only five in game two.
Sydney Ward in game one pitched her seventh complete game (2nd GAC) and allowed just five hits, zero runs, one walk, and one wild pitch. The senior struck out six batters throughout the 26 she faced.
With the bases loaded, Southern Arkansas' Regan Dillon stepped added bomb to her GAC-leading total (8) for a grand slam.
In the nightcap, Brinson Rogers pitched her third complete game of the year, facing 26 batters and striking out 17. Rogers' 17 strikeouts are the most by a Lady Mulerider since 2004 when Krystal Poulin struck out 17 in wins over Emporia State and West Alabama.
The Lady Muleriders are scheduled to play at Southern Nazarene Sunday and Monday.