MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas Mulerider Baseball team is set to begin play for the first time at home in 2016 as they host and welcome in four other schools for the SAU Invitational that will be played from February 12-14 at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Joining SAU at the Invitational will be a trio of teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma and Washburn as well as Oklahoma Christian of the Heartland Conference.
 
The three-day invitational, with potential regional postseason implications, will see eight games throughout the weekend beginning with a noon first-pitch between Central Missouri and Oklahoma Christian. SAU's home-opener will begin at 3 p.m. against Central Missouri and will be followed by a 6 p.m. matchup with Oklahoma Christian. On Saturday, Southern Arkansas hosts Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m., before concluding play in the invite with a 3 p.m. first-pitch with Washburn; their third meeting so far this season. For more information such as team rosters and the complete weekend slate, follow this link: http://muleriderathletics.com/sports/2016/2/11/BSB_0211164226.aspx?path=baseball.
 
The Muleriders (3-2) are coming off a 10-1 road win against perennial NAIA-power No. 11 LSU-Shreveport on Tuesday. Southern Arkansas received a solid effort on the mound by junior Eric Shildt who tossed 7.2 innings, while not allowing an earned run. Kenneth Tabor and Jared Fielden account for the other two wins on the young season as both players picked up victories on the final day of play at the 2016 SAU DII Classic at the Ballpark at Grand Prairie.
 
As a pitching staff this season, Southern Arkansas has a team ERA of just 2.80, while striking out a combined 39 batters, allowing only 20 walks in 45.0 innings and holding the opposition's bats to a .200 average. SAU has benefitted from a strong bullpen as they have collectively scattered 14 hits over 20.1 innings, while allowing just three earned runs. Dalton Algiene's first appearance of the season covered 6.1 innings in relief as he helped shut down Washburn in the teams' second meeting in Grand Prairie.
 
At the plate, the Muleriders have pushed across 28 runs, averaging just fewer than six runs a game. As a group, Southern Arkansas has collected 43 hits, 12 walks and 12 hit-by-pitches, while swinging at a clip of .257 as a team with an on-base percentage of .349. Jake Tisevich leads the offensive attack with a team-best .444 average at the top of the order in three games started, while Zach Silvers has produced a .368 average with a team-leading seven hits in five games started this season.
 
For complete team and individual statistics through the Muleriders' first five games, follow this link: http://muleriderathletics.com/custompages/Current%20Statistics/baseball/teamcume.htm. Game results and recaps are available here: http://muleriderathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&.
 
Central Missouri enters 2016 campaign after posting a 30-22 (23-13 MIAA) record a year ago that included a late-round exit in the MIAA Conference Tournament. So far this season, the Mules are 0-3 after suffering a trio of one-run losses at the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park, including two defeats to Great American Conference opponents in Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello.
 
Central Oklahoma is 1-0 on the young season after a 9-7 win over the GAC's Southwestern Oklahoma State on Tuesday to open up the year. Last spring, the Bronchos finished 19-26 (14-21 MIAA) in the always competitive MIAA.
 
Washburn will play three games in Magnolia during the weekend, while also concluding the unconventional three-game series with the Muleriders on Sunday; a rubber-match as both programs have a win against each other this season. (Game 1, Game 2) The Ichabods are 2-2 on the season after going .500 in Grand Prairie. A year ago, Washburn finished 33-20 (22-14 MIAA) including a deep run in the MIAA Conference Tournament where they fell to Emporia State, 6-5.
 
Oklahoma Christian is currently 3-1 on the season after a season-opening sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville and a one-run, 14-13 loss in an offensive slugfest to the GAC's Southeastern Oklahoma State. In 2015, the Eagles finished 35-22 (14-13 Heartland) as provisional members of NCAA Division II, while falling 4-3 in 12 innings to Fresno Pacific (Calif.) in the first semifinal game of the NCCAA World Series.  
 
Live stats (http://www.sidearmstats.com/saumag/baseball/) and live video (https://livestream.com/accounts/10140781) will be available for the duration of the weekend covering all eight games from Magnolia.
 
Be sure to visit muleriderathletics.com for pregame and postgame recaps, news, and other information on head coach Steve Browning and the 2016 Mulerider Baseball team.