Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The No. 11-ranked Southern Arkansas baseball team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over visiting Southern Nazarene, but SAU was forced to come-from-behind to pick up their 6-4 win over SNU in the opening game of their series on Friday night at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
The first run of the game for the Muleriders (31-13, 16-9 GAC) came in the bottom of the first inning when Trevor Rucker scored on a fielder's choice hit into by Carver Rademacher. Prior to scoring the first run, Rucker drew a one-out walk, stole second base and then advanced to third on a single through the left side by Jon Phillips. In the next inning, the Muleriders scored a pair of runs on a bases-loaded single to left-centerfield by Tyler Cameron.
 
Those three runs of early support appeared to be more than enough for SAU starter Dylan Lynn as he was extremely sharp through the first four innings. In that time, Lynn (9-1) had allowed just one base-runner (hit-by-pitch) and struck out three batters.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, however, the Crimson Storm (15-28, 4-24 GAC) would finally get to Lynn. A lead-off single served as their first hit of the game off of Lynn. That lead-off hit would spark an eventual three-run inning as the Crimson Storm picked up hits in each of their next three at-bats. The final of those hits was a two-run double down the left field line that tied the game at three-all. With no outs in the frame and three runs given up, Lynn would bear down as retire the next three batters in order to get out of the inning.
 
A lead-off single followed by a hit-by-pitch in the top of the sixth set up another scoring chance for the Crimson Storm off of Lynn. Two batters later, the Crimson Storm would take a one-run lead, 4-3, on a one-out sacrifice fly. Lynn would retire the next batter to get out of the sixth.
 
After the Muleriders were held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, Lynn returned to the mound in the seventh and retired the side on just six pitches. In the bottom of the frame, the Muleriders would put together a two-run rally to get Lynn off the hook and on the plus side of the game.
 
In that bottom of the seventh, Cameron led off with a walk. Rucker then followed with a single to left field to put the go-ahead run on base. A sacrifice bunt by Phillips in the next at-bat moved Cameron and Rucker into scoring position with one out. An intentional walk of Rademacher was in order next as the Crimson Storm loaded the bases for Jackson McCurdy.
 
Following the intentional pass of Rademacher, the Crimson Storm would make the move to the bullpen for the first time in the game. Two pitches into his relief appearance, SNU's Michael Descisciolo would give up the go-ahead hit as McCurdy served a two-run single into right field, scoring Cameron and Rucker.
 
Now leading by a run, the Muleriders made their first call to the bullpen as closer Preston Gray came on to start the eighth inning. Gray, who was in search of his 10th save of the season, made quick work of the Crimson Storm in the inning as he struck out the side. In the bottom of the inning, the Muleriders would give Gray another run to work with as Rucker laid down a prefect safety squeeze bunt with two outs, scoring Josh Rodriguez, who singled to lead off the inning.
 
In the ninth, Gray would surrender a lead-off single, but he came back with another strikeout in the next at-bat to register the first out the inning. In the next at-bat, Gray would end the game in spectacular fashion as he snatched a liner back up the middle and near his head. After quickly gathering himself, Gray threw over to first base to complete the game-ending double play.
 
The Muleriders and Crimson Storm will return to the field on Saturday to complete their three-game series with a doubleheader starting at noon. Prior to first-pitch, the Mulerider baseball team will hold their Senior Day ceremony as they will honor the six seniors on this year's team: Tyler Cameron, Telvin Darden, Zach Costa, Dylan Lynn, Jackson McCurdy, and Cory Roper.