[May 18, 2008]

May 18, 2008
By: Houston Taylor

CLEVELAND, Miss. – Scratching its way to a 9-8 win over sixth-ranked Abilene Christian Sunday at Ferriss Field, Southern Arkansas advanced to face No. 1 Delta State in the semi-finals of the NCAA Division II South Central Region tournament, but the Statesmen pulled out a 5-3 victory to end the Muleriders’ season.

With the tournament bracket set-up, SAU had to play back-to-back games Sunday, facing DSU in a late contest.

Trailing 7-2 after seven innings, Southern Arkansas scored seven runs in the final two frames to eliminate the Wildcats (44-17) from the tourney, plating the winning run on a bases-loaded hit batter. With two outs, the ninth-ranked Muleriders got five runs to knot it in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by centerfielder Tyler Maag’s bases clearing triple. All five runs were unearned in the inning as they were aided by two ACU errors.

Following an Abilene Christian run in the ninth, SAU, again with two away, filled the bags in the bottom half and designated hitter Nick Smith came home with the deciding run when Maag was plunked by the first pitch delivered to him. That set up the showdown against Delta State, with the winner earning the right to face Ouachita Baptist Monday in the championship game.

Southern Arkansas took a 2-0 lead in the third on an RBI double from catcher Brandon Graves and a sacrifice fly off the bat of shortstop Pat Robey. Brandon Wellborn, in only his third start of the season, kept the Muleriders in it early, carrying a no-hitter into the fourth inning before consecutive singles from Anthony Palasini and J.T. Taylor gave the Statesmen their first run.

Wellborn was lifted in the seventh after giving up a leadoff walk and single, replaced by Aaron Terry, who got the win against Abilene Christian. After getting the first batter swinging, consecutive hit batters brought in the tying run and hastened Terry’s exit and brought on Adam Anderson, who also struck out the first hitter he faced before giving up consecutive singles that plated three more DSU runs. Brian Byrd became the fourth pitcher of the inning, eventually getting a lineout to end the frame.

But the damage had been done as Delta State’s four runs in the inning held up as SAU managed only a solo run the rest of the way, coming in the eighth.

The Statesmen got their five runs on six hits, while Southern Arkansas also had six hits, but committed two errors and stranded seven runners, including the bases loaded in the eighth.

Palasini had three of DSU’s hits and drove in two runs, while Taylor contributed two hits and also had two RBI.

The Muleriders’ hits came off the bat of six different players, with second baseman Cannon Lester’s double driving in the run in the eighth.

Cody Kelley (5-0) went seven innings in getting the win for Delta State, while Levi Bishop tossed the final two for his ninth save.

Wellborn (2-2) took the hard luck loss, scattering four hits over his six innings. The three runs against him were earned, and he walked six while striking out two.

Coming out of the loser’s bracket, the Statesmen (48-11) needed two wins against undefeated Ouachita Baptist Monday, but the Tigers (47-14) used a convincing 8-1 victory to advance to the NCAA Division II World Series that starts Saturday in Sauget, Ill.

The loss was the end of a phenomenal season by SAU (46-12) as they reached the 40-win plateau for the third consecutive year and reached the No. 1 ranking in the country in April for the first time in school history. Southern Arkansas’ 46 victories matches the highest season win total set by the 1987 NAIA World Series team that finished third in the nation.