MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Fifth-ranked Southern Arkansas gave coach Allen Gum his 200th career win Wednesday in completing a season sweep of William Carey (Miss.) with a 6-2 victory over the Crusaders at Mulerider Field.
SAU’s string of solid pitching continued as senior Chad Yinger (Monroe, Mich.), in his first start of the season, overcame a shaky beginning to 
earn his first win against no losses. After allowing a two-run single to William Carey clean-up hitter Chantse Edwards in the top of the first, Yinger was near perfect from then on, sitting down the next 11 batters he faced. The only runner he allowed after the first inning reached on an error, but was promptly picked off at first by junior catcher Brandon Choate (Hooks, Texas) on a strikeout throw-out double play. Yinger struck out seven and walked one over five innings before handing it over to the bullpen.
True freshman Bryce Biggerstaff (Sherwood), junior Bryan Dixon (Mesquite, Texas) and senior Kris Marshall (Rockport, Texas) combined to allow just one hit over the final four frames.
Southern Arkansas (21-3) got most of their offense in the second inning, posting five runs on just two hits. Trailing 2-0, sophomore center fielder Gavan McCauley (Prescott) tied it with a bases-loaded single that scored junior first baseman Logan Williams (Damascus) and sophomore left fielder Jason Dahl (Batesville). Choate then crossed the plate on Crusader catcher Josh Dannelly’s throwing error, before senior shortstop Andrew Whittington (Texas City, Texas) tripled to 
bring home McCauley. Senior second baseman Nick Paschal (Scott, La.) tacked on a sacrifice fly two pitches later to make it a 5-2 game.
The Muleriders got their only other run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Whittington’s one-out double scored McCauley from first.
SAU finished the game with just four hits, with Whittington claiming three of them to extend his hitting streak to 23 games. Senior third baseman Cannon Lester (El Dorado) and Paschal were hitless on the day, which ended their 15 and 13 game streaks, respectively.
Both teams stranded two men aboard and committed one error in the nine-inning affair that was over within two hours.
Logan Shaver (0-1) took the loss for William Carey (13-13), lasting just 1 1/3 innings and allowing all five Southern Arkansas runs in the second inning. Shaver surrendered three hits and four walks while striking out one.
Gum has compiled an impressive 200-61 record in only his fifth season leading the Muleriders and easily has the second-most wins at the 
helm in SAU history. A former two-year player at Southern Arkansas, Gum took over the program in 2006 and immediately led the Muleriders to their first-ever Gulf South Conference championship. They repeated that feat last season, and his teams have also advanced to three NCAA D-II region semi-finals.
SAU returns to conference play this weekend with a three-game set against Henderson State at home. Saturday’s doubleheader (9/7) is scheduled to start at 3 p. m. before the teams conclude the series with a solo nine-inning contest Sunday at 2 p. m.
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Photos by Aaron Morris and Mike Jones
