Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The No. 4-ranked Southern Arkansas baseball team took to the diamond on Saturday in search of a series sweep of Northwestern Oklahoma, but NWOSU would stave off that potential sweep as they defeated SAU by a score of 10-5 in the series finale inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
The Muleriders (11-3, 4-2 GAC) would fall behind 1-0 in the top of the third inning when Logan Porter hit a solo homerun out to centerfield, but a two-run bottom of the third put SAU on top 2-1. Jon Phillips and Carver Rademacher would each pick up two-out RBIs in that frame for the Muleriders.
 
That lead would not last long, however, as the Rangers (6-5, 2-4 GAC) plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead. The big blow in that inning was a two-run homerun out to centerfield by Danny O'Connell. O'Connell's homerun came with no outs in the inning and pushed the Rangers back on top. A RBI double by Jonathan Freemyer accounted for the third run that inning.
 
Both teams would score a run over the next three innings to keep it a two-run ball game in favor of NWOSU, 5-3. In the top of the eighth inning, the Rangers would add a run on a two-out single by Calvin Ellis; making it a 6-3 game.
 
The Muleriders would threaten the Rangers' lead once more in the bottom half of the eighth inning as Tyler Cameron blasted a two-out, two-run homerun out to left field to bring the Muleriders to within a run, 6-5. A double to left-centerfield by Phillips followed and put the tying run in scoring position. Phillips would be stranded, however, as Rademacher struck out on a 3-2 count to end the inning.
 
In the next half inning, the Rangers broke the game open as they scored four runs on five hits to take a 10-5 lead. The Muleriders would put their leadoff hitter on base in the bottom of the ninth as Jackson McCurdy was able to reach first base on an errant throw by the Rangers' catcher following a swinging strikeout of McCurdy. On the very next pitch, however, McCurdy was erased on the base paths as Justin Buchanan hit into a 6-4-3 double play. A strikeout of the next Mulerider batter ended the game and gave the Rangers the win, 10-5.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare to hit the road for a mid-week doubleheader against Union University (Tenn.). The twin-bill is slated to be played on Tuesday, February 25 with a first-pitch of 1 p.m.