Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – A comfortable 7-1 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning turned out to be an edge-of-the-seat 7-4 victory for the No. 17 Southern Arkansas baseball team over Henderson State on Friday night in Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
The Muleriders (15-7, 9-1 GAC) built the comfortable lead for starting pitcher James Baune after they platted four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the 7-1 lead. Prior to that the Muleriders gave Baune the only lead he would need in the bottom of the third inning when David Harris broke a one-all tie as he lined a two-run homerun out to left-centerfield.
 
The Harris go-ahead jack not only sparked the largest home crowd of the season, but it also allowed Baune to begin to settle in to his start as his offense continued to give him run support. After Baune retired Carlos Rodriguez for the second out in the third inning, the junior right-hander would go on to retire the next seven batters in succession.
 
A leadoff single by Michael Corso in the top of the sixth inning ended the string of consecutive batters retired, but four pitches after the hit, Baune induced the first of three double plays on the night as he would eventually work out of the inning without surrendering a run. The other two twin-killings came in the seventh and eighth with each ending the respective inning in the process.
 
Looking to secure his third complete-game of the season, Baune returned to the mound for the top of the ninth inning. On the first pitch of the inning, Corso tagged a double to left field. Baune struck out the next batter, but allowed a second base runner as he walked Austin Coble. After a fly out by Michael Schell in the next at-bat, Baune was one out away from the complete-game victory.
 
Three consecutive errors along the infield, however, would keep Baune from the complete-game as the Reddies (12-6, 7-3 GAC) capitalized on the miscues by scoring three unearned runs to force the Muleriders into the bullpen.
 
Cory Roper would be first out of the pen for the Muleriders, but he would face just one batter as he hit Zac Zdanowicz to load the bases with two outs. With the tying run on base and the go-ahead run at the plate, the Muleriders turned to closer Justin Thomas.
 
It would take just three pitches from Thomas to earn his ninth save of the season as he induced a popup of Jeff Beck to end the game.
 
The Muleriders will now go for the series win as they will host Henderson State again on Saturday, this time for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. in Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
Fans are also encouraged to bring the pets to the park as the doubleheader will serve as the “Bark at the Park” as donations will be taken to help Scarlett the Dog have surgery on her two front legs. Price of admission per pet is $10.