Box Score

SEARCY, Ark. – Trailing by 2-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Southern Arkansas' Tyler Cameron hit a two-run homerun to help force extra innings against Harding in the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Jerry Moore Field. SAU would go on to take a 4-2 lead in the top of the 10th, but Harding rallied to knot the score and force an 11th inning. In the 11th, the Bisons would get a bases loaded single up the middle to win the game, 5-4.
 
The win for the Bisons (16-8, 8-4 GAC) in the series finale on Saturday gave Harding the series-win, and in the process, it broke an impressive streak of consecutive conference series won by the No. 3-ranked Muleriders (21-6, 10-5 GAC), which ended at 20. The streak started nearly two years ago to the date, when the Muleriders took the first two games of the series against Arkansas-Monticello March 17, 2012.
 
On Saturday, both teams would get tremendous starting pitching performances as SAU's Timothy Buchanan and HU's Logan Holthaus sailed through the first three innings without allowing a hit. The first hit of the game on either side came in the top of fourth inning when Jon Phillips hit a one-out single into left-centerfield. Nothing would come of that hit for the Muleriders, however, as the Bisons were able to turn the first of their four inning-ending double plays in the ensuing at-bat.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bisons would register their first hit of the game as Matt Calhoun singled up the middle to lead off. During the next at-bat, Calhoun would advance to second on a wild pitch. Later in that same at-bat, Calhoun came around to score as James Anderson doubled down the left field line. Buchanan would limit the damage to that one run as he retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
 
Two innings later, the Bisons added a single run to take a 2-0 lead. A half inning later, in the top of the seventh, the Muleriders would threaten to score their first run of the game as they loaded the bases with one out. The Bisons' starter Holthaus would once again escape without any damage as he induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the jam.
 
The push by the Muleriders to break into the run column would return once more in the top of the eighth as Trevor Rucker reached first base on a hit-by-pitch. A single to left field by Josh Rodriguez followed, but Rucker was cut down at second base on the play. A pitching change was then made by Harding, bringing in Zac Stewart to face William Townsend. Townsend would reach first base on a fielder's choice as he was able avoid hitting into the twin-killing.
 
Now with two outs and Townsend on first base the lineup turned over bringing up the Muleriders' leadoff man, Tyler Cameron. On a 1-1 count, Cameron would connect on his fourth homerun of the season as he knotted the game at two-all.
 
The Bisons would be held off the board in the eighth and neither team scored in the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
 
In the top of the 10th, the Muleriders would apply immediate pressure as Telvin Darden singled to centerfield to lead off. A sacrifice bunt by Rucker in the next at-bat moved Darden into scoring position. Rodriguez then reached base on a fielder's choice, but Darden was not putout on the play, giving SAU runners at first and second with one out. A single into left field by Townsend followed, loading the bases for Cameron. Cameron would then hit into a fielder's choice, but Darden was able to score, pushing the Muleriders on top, 3-2. A single through the left side on the very next pitch by Phillips gave SAU a two-run lead, 4-2. In the bottom of the frame, however, the Bisons would score twice to force another inning.
 
In the top of the 11th, Jackson McCurdy would lead off with a single, but the Muleriders would be turned away in the frame as the Bisons got a strike-em out, throw-em out double play to escape another inning.
 
A leadoff double followed by a single for the Bisons in the bottom of the 11th put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Trent Woolridge was then intentionally walked by Blake Sullivan, who entered the game in the 10th after Harding tied the game at four-all. The intentional walk was issued to load the bases and set up a double play anywhere for the Muleriders. In the next at-bat, however, the Bisons' Chris Hardey, who was pinch-hitting, singled up the middle to score the winning run.
 
The Muleriders will return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon as they travel to Arkadelphia to take on Ouachita Baptist in non-conference action. This game was originally scheduled to be played on February 11, but was postponed due to wintery weather. First-pitch in Tuesday's game is set for 2 p.m.