MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Complete-game efforts by starting pitchers Landon Simpson and Kenneth Tabor helped the No. 21-ranked Southern Arkansas baseball team come away with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Southern Nazarene on Friday night as SAU posted identical 6-1 victories across both ends of the twin-bill at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
In the opener, senior right-hander Landon Simpson would turn in his best starting pitching performance of the young season as he struck out 11 batters while scattering seven base hits and allowing one earned run over 9.0 complete innings of work.
 
In support of Simpson, the Muleriders (10-5, 3-2 GAC) would use their half of the third inning to break a scoreless tie and provide Simpson all the cushion needed as they plated five runs on six hits in the frame. Picking up RBIs in that inning for the Muleriders were Austin Bishoff, Justin Buchanan, Billy Germaine, and David LaFleur.
 
Bishoff would add a second RBI to his total in the opener in the eighth as he singled to right-centerfield scoring Michael Page, who had reached on a fielding error by the Crimson Storm (1-13, 1-4 GAC) shortstop to lead off the inning.
 
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Muleriders would get off to a quicker start offensively as on the second pitch of that game, leadoff hitter Jake Tisevich roped an opposite field homerun off the scoreboard in right-centerfield. Three batters later, the Muleriders would take a 2-0 lead as a Bishoff groundout to shortstop chased home Trevor Rucker, who doubled following Tisevich's homer.
 
Three innings later, the Muleriders tacked on a single run to give them a 3-0 lead as Germaine drew a bases loaded walk, forcing home Page.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Crimson Storm would strike for their lone run of the game as sacrifice fly got them on the board.
 
In the bottom of that inning, the Muleriders would get that run back, plus one, as they scored twice to make the score 5-1, SAU. The first of the runs scored on a well-placed bases loaded safety squeeze bunt by Page, scoring Buchanan. During the ensuing at-bat, a wild pitch would account for the second run as LaFleur jaunted home.
 
An inning later, the Muleriders would add one more run to their total as Trevor Ward's groundout to the first baseman with the bases loaded allowed Bishoff to score.
 
In the next half inning, Tabor would come out and seal the deal on his complete-game effort as he retired the side in order. The final line on Tabor would see him work 7.0 innings and give up one earned run while allowing just three hits. Tabor would also work around four walks in his start as he also recorded six strikeouts.
 
The Muleriders will look to complete the series sweep over the Crimson Storm tomorrow as the final game of the three-game set is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.