Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After taking the first two games of the series on Friday, the No. 4-ranked Southern Arkansas baseball team took to the field on Saturday looking for a sweep against No. 13-ranked Arkansas Tech, but the Wonder Boys would score seven runs over the sixth and seventh innings to help propel them to an eventual 8-5 win.
 
Prior to that scoring surge for the Wonder Boys (20-8, 10-5 GAC), the Muleriders (24-7, 12-6 GAC) had given themselves a 4-1 lead after they scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth. In that inning, the Muleriders would get RBI hits from Tyler Cameron, Jon Phillips, and Trevor Rucker while Justin Buchanan also notched a RBI on a fielder's choice. Cameron's RBI started the scoring in the frame as he doubled down the left field line, scoring Josh Rodriguez, who drew a one-out walk earlier.
 
The 4-1 Mulerider lead did not last long however, as the Wonder Boys struck for three runs in the next half inning to knot the game at four-all. In that inning, the Wonder Boys would collect a pair of base hits to start the frame. SAU's starter Timothy Buchanan then got a fielder's choice in the next at-bat, putting runners on the corners with one out. A first-pitch single through the left side of the infield by Chance Scamardo plated the first run of the inning for Tech. A walk by Buchanan followed and loaded the bases. That walk would be the first issued by a Mulerider pitcher in the series as the SAU pitching staff had went the previous 19.1 innings without allowing a walk.
 
That walk also spelled the end of the day for Buchanan as he was pulled in favor of fellow lefty Blake Sullivan. The first man Sullivan would face hit into a fielder's choice, but not outs were recorded as an error was committed by the Muleriders shortstop. Two runs would come across on the error, tying the game at four-all. Sullivan would then get another fielder's choice, but this time it was good for the second out of the inning. A swinging strike out in the next at-bat got Sullivan and the Muleriders out of the inning.
 
A leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth for the Muleriders did not amount to anything as Wonder Boys' reliever Jake Bell was able to get a pair of flyouts and a fielder's choice to work out of the inning.
 
In the top of the seventh, with Sullivan back on the mound, the Wonder Boys would apply immediate pressure as they drew consecutive walks to lead off the inning. Following those pair of walks, Sullivan would fall behind the next batter 2-0 before he was lifted for Yumezo Densaki. Densaki would not deliver a strike in that at-bat as another walk loaded the bases. A fielder's choice in the ensuing at-bat broke the four-all tie as Tech jumped ahead 5-4. The Wonder Boys would go on to add three more runs in the inning to take an 8-4 lead.
 
That score would remain until the bottom of the ninth when the Muleriders threatened with a serious comeback effort. In that inning, the Wonder Boys would start off with a fresh arm as they went to the bullpen for closer Randy Vallejo. Cameron greeted Vallejo with a ringing double into left field to lead off. Following a swinging strikeout, Carver Rademacher singled into centerfield to put runners on the corners with one out. Jackson McCurdy then came on as a pinch-hitter and reached first base on an infield single, loading the bases. In the ensuing at-bat, Rucker's groundout to the first baseman scored Cameron and made it an 8-5 game.
 
With the potential tying run now coming to the plate, the Muleriders elected to go to their bench once more as Ryan Dardenne pinch-hit. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Dardenne put a charge into the ball and laced it out to left field. Off the bat, it looked as though it had a chance to tie the game or at least be a two-run double, but the Wonder Boys' left fielder Scamardo would make a great play on the ball on the warning track, ending the game.
 
The Muleriders will remain at home this upcoming week as they are slated to play four games at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. The first of those games will be a non-conference game against Henderson State on Tuesday, March 25. First-pitch is set for 6 p.m.