Box Score

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Facing elimination in the 2014 Central Region Tournament, both the Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech baseball teams got outstanding starting pitching and defense as the two nationally-ranked clubs played to extend their season. It would be Tech, however, that would come out on top as they used a five-run eighth inning to propel them to a 5-0 win, ending SAU's season.

Just a half inning prior to the five-run eighth for the Wonder Boys (44-11), the Muleriders (39-19) had put together one of their best scoring opportunities of the game as they had bases loaded with one out and their cleanup hitter Carver Rademacher due up. A fly ball off the bat of Rademacher into medium centerfield looked like it would push across the game's first run, but that run was not allowed as the Wonder Boys picked up the third out of the inning at third base before the run was deemed to have crossed the plate.  

Moments after that pivotal call, the Wonder Boys would come to bat in the bottom of the eighth. A first-pitch single into left-centerfield by James Sharp chased Yumezo Densaki from the start as the Muleriders went to their closer Preston Gray. After a successful sacrifice bunt moved Sharp into scoring position, the Wonder Boys would load the bases on an infield single and a walk.

A big second out followed in the next at-bat as Gray would get designated hitter and cleanup batter Kris Ayers to flyout to shallow left field, keeping the bases loaded. In the ensuing at-bat, the Muleriders would fall mere inches from getting out of the inning as Zac Johnson flared a two-RBI single off the top of SAU second baseman Josh Rodriguez's glove as he ranged up the middle.

Three more hits and runs would come as Tech took a 5-0 lead before the Muleriders got out of the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, the Muleriders would get a two-out walk, but were unable to extend the game any further as they dropped the 5-0 decision to the Wonder Boys.

The Muleriders, who won their third-consecutive GAC Tournament Championship and appeared in their seventh-straight regional tournament, end their season with a 39-19 record. It is also the 14th-straight and 23rd in the last 24 seasons in which the Muleriders have won 30 or more games.