SAU Blanks Arkansas-Monticello in Record Day

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas’ stellar season continued Saturday with a pair of shutouts against Arkansas-Monticello at Mulerider Field. The No. 4 Muleriders used an 8-0 win in the opener and a record-setting 31-0 blanking in the nightcap for their 20th consecutive win and moved to a perfect 8-0 in Gulf South Conference play. The Boll Weevils’ season struggles continued as they remain winless on the season at 0-25 and 0-8 in league play.

SAU (28-3, 8-0 GSC) collected 31 hits on the day, including 18 in the game two victory that helped plate a school record 31 runs, bettering the mark they set February 3 in a 30-10 win over Stillman (Ala.) College. They scored 13 runs alone in the sixth inning against the Boll Weevils, the third highest mark in school history for a single inning.

Right fielder David Aubrey tied school game records in the 31-0 win by drawing five walks and scoring six runs. Aubrey also extended his hit streak to 15 consecutive games with a single in his only official at-bat. His five walks matched Darren Jones’ against Henderson State in 1996, and the six runs tied Tony Garcia’s versus Arkansas Tech in 1987.

Southern Arkansas was scoreless in only the first inning in getting their record 31 runs. They pushed six across in the second, four in the third, a solo in the fourth, and seven in the fifth before the 13-run sixth. They had but six hits in that final frame, aided by six walks, two wild pitches, and a balk from UAM pitchers, and a passed ball and fielding error. Shortstop Pat Robey had four RBI in the inning, first with a single, and then in batting around, hitting his first homerun of the season with a three-run shot to left field.

The Muleriders played error-free and left seven runners on base. Arkansas-Monticello was limited to four hits, made three miscues, and stranded six.

First baseman Tim Dellwo had SAU’s only other homerun of the day in the fifth, a massive two-run shot to left that bounced off the top of the new football concession stand. Dellwo was 2 for 5 in adding a run-scoring double to give him four RBI in the game. Center fielder Tyler Maag finished with two hits, while driving in three runs and scoring five. Robey was a perfect 4 for 4 with six RBI and scored four runs. He was a combined 5 for 7 on the day, drove in seven runs and scored five, drew four walks, and stole four bases, three in the first game.

Southern Arkansas added doubles from left fielder John Long and catcher Brandon Graves, who each had two, and second baseman Cannon Lester and reserve outfielder Blake Fulenwider.

Aaron Terry (4-0) got the start and went five innings for the win. He allowed all four Boll Weevil hits, walked four, and struck out six. Adam Anderson and Thomas Tillery closed out the game with an inning apiece.

Josh Hathcox (0-5) lasted just an inning in taking the loss, giving up four hits, five earned runs, and two free passes. UAM used a total of four pitchers who issued 19 total walks, seven wild pitches, one hit batter, and a balk.

Senior pitcher Cody Jones was the story in the opener, tossing a complete game for his team-leading eighth win of the season against no losses. The lefty recorded double-digits for the fifth time in his career in striking out 11 batters, matching his career high set twice before, while walking none and scattering five hits. At one point Jones set down nine straight Arkansas-Monticello hitters, and he had three innings with at least two strikeouts, including the side in the second. With 31 career wins, Jones is within one of tying the school mark of 32 set by Wayne Glass (1982-85). Owning the school season record of 115 punch-outs, with 240 for his career he’s but 45 K’s shy of that mark.

The Muleriders got off to a slow start at the plate, going scoreless in the first three innings as the Boll Weevils’ Kyle Thaxton was impressive on the mound. SAU touched him for two runs in the fourth though, and scored every inning thereafter.

Southern Arkansas finished with 13 hits and made one error, but stranded 13 runners. UAM got only one extra-base hit in their five off Jones, a double, committed three errors, and left four on.

Long was 3 for 5 at the plate, all singles, and drove in three. Dellwo and designated hitter Nick Smith each had doubles, and Dellwo and third baseman James Schroeder scored three runs apiece.

Thaxton (0-6) was the loser in his three-plus innings of work, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and three walks. Three Arkansas-Monticello pitchers issued seven walks for a combined 26 on the day.

With Saturday’s wins, the Muleriders moved into sole possession of first place in the GSC West Division as Arkansas Tech was swept at home by Christian Brothers to fall to 6-2.

SAU and UAM wrap up their three-game series Sunday in a 2 p.m. game.

Photos by Aaron Morris, SAU sports information