Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The No. 4-ranked Southern Arkansas baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning to help propel them past NAIA-ranked No. 7 LSU-Shreveport by a score of 7-2 on Tuesday night at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
In addition to early offensive surge, the Muleriders (28-8) would get a sensational pitching performance from starter Yumezo Densaki. Densaki, who moved to 3-1 on the year, would work six strong innings, scattering two hits and allowing just one earned run on a sacrifice fly.
 
Both hits and the run off of Densaki came in the top of the sixth inning with the Muleriders having extended their lead to 7-0.
 
Prior to that inning, Densaki, the Osaka, Japan native was working on a no-hitter. The first of those hits given up by Densaki was leadoff infield single to shortstop off the bat of Blair Landry. A batter later, the Pilots (29-9) would get another infield single; this one to second base, and on the play, Landry would advance to third base. A swinging strikeout gave Densaki the first out of the sixth. A sacrifice fly and a pop-out to the shortstop followed to get Densaki out of the inning.
 
The score would remain 7-1 in favor of the Muleriders until the top of the ninth when the Pilots put together a threatening rally as they loaded the bases with one out. A RBI single to left field by William Breland kept the bases loaded and plated the Pilots' second run of the game, making it 7-2 SAU.
 
Now with the potential game-tying run for the Pilots moving into the on-deck circle, the Muleriders turned to closer Preston Gray for the final two outs of the game. On the second pitch of his relief appearance, Gray would induce a game-ending line-out double play to earn his ninth save of the season.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare to hit the road for a three-game conference series at East Central. The series is slated to begin on Friday, April 4 at 2 p.m.