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Muleriders’ Mound-Work Blanks Harding

By: Brendan McDonald

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas couldn’t have asked for a much better start in opening Gulf South Conference play as the third-ranked Muleriders (18-3, 2-0 GSC) tossed a pair of blanks at Harding with a 10-0 shortened run-rule game in the opener before claiming a 7-0 victory in the nightcap Saturday at Mulerider Field.

The one-two punch of Hayden Simpson (Magnolia) and Matt Speake (Tyler, Texas) on the mound kept the Bisons (10-12, 0-2 GSC) off the scoreboard, while senior third baseman Cannon Lester (El Dorado) homered in both games to lead the powerful SAU offense.

Simpson (6-0) set the tone from the outset, scattering four singles and striking out 12 over the seven inning affair to earn his fifth career shutout. The junior has now thrown 27 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to Feb. 20 when he allowed an unearned run against West Florida.

While Harding struggled to create scoring opportunities, Southern Arkansas pounded out 13 hits in the opener, including five for extra bases. Leading 1-0 in the third, senior second baseman Nick Paschal (Scott, La.) singled in a run before Lester’s opposite field blast gave the Muleriders a 4-0 cushion.

SAU blew the game open with four more runs in the sixth, highlighted by back-to-back doubles from junior designated hitter Jake Astor (North Liberty, Iowa) and junior first baseman Logan Williams (Damascus).

The speed of centerfielder Gavan McCauley (Prescott) provided the final run of the game, as the sophomore reached on an infield single, promptly stole second, then third, and finally scored on Bison catcher Dylan Blount’s throwing error to end it.

Senior shortstop Andrew Whittington (Texas City, Texas) and junior leftfielder Adam Boucher (Conway) had three hits apiece, while Lester, Astor and Williams combined for seven RBI.

Magnolia native Troy Keith (1-2) took the loss for Harding, surrendering seven hits and four earned runs over five frames, walking three and fanning four.

Speake (3-0) kept Southern Arkansas rolling in game two, striking out five of the first six hitters he faced, and 10 for the game, while giving up just two hits. Such was Speake’s dominance that a seventh inning-single and two lazy fly-outs were the only three balls he allowed the Bisons to hit out of the infield all night.

Lester’s second home run of the evening put the Muleriders ahead 3-0 in the third, before SAU tacked on four more in the sixth to put the game out of reach. McCauley plated a run, and another coming home on a throwing error, with a two-out bunt single in the inning, before being driven home by Whittington, who singled to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. Lester, who was hit three times on the day, extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Kyle Cline suffered the loss, lasting 5 2/3 innings and allowing five earned runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out four.

In contrast to Harding pitchers, who issued eight free passes and struck out 11, Simpson and Speake combined for 22 strikeouts and no walks.

The teams conclude the series with a nine-inning contest at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Photos by Aaron Morris