MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas Baseball team will welcome in NAIA-perennial power and 13^th-ranked LSU- Shreveport for a non-conference contest tonight with a scheduled 6 p.m. first-pitch time from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.

The Muleriders (19-11) are currently tied for fourth place in the Great American Conference standings while also owning a 10-1 home record. Despite Tuesday's non-league affair, the Pilots (20-11) present a tough matchup, having won 40-plus games in each of the past 11 seasons. SAU is 15-11 overall against LSU-Shreveport since 2001 and are 9-2 against the Pilots in Magnolia.

Earlier this season, Southern Arkansas defeated LSUS 10-1 on the road as three SAU arms combined to surrender just four Pilot hits, while Eric Shildt earned his first career win as a Mulerider. David LaFleur and Zach Silvers each drove in three RBI in February's win.

Justin Buchanan (.343) and Jake Tisevich (.306) boast .300-plus averages for SAU. Buchanan paces the Muleriders in hits (35), doubles (9), RBI (20), total bases (58), slugging percentage (.429) and on-base percentage (.429). Tisevich is one of three Muleriders with 30 or more hits, including six doubles, two triples and three home runs and his seven stolen bases are second on the team, behind Trevor Rucker's 13 bag swipes.

Four pitchers have started four or more games this season and 15 players have appeared on the mound for the Muleriders who have a team-ERA of 3.46. As a staff, Southern Arkansas has recorded 219 strikeouts, and seven complete games, while opponents hit .255.

Alex Montero (.480) leads the Pilots at the plate and will carry a 25-game hitting streak into Tuesday night's game. Montero has collected 36 hits, five homeruns and 31 RBI, while scoring 21 runs. Nine other Pilot hitters are hitting .300 or better. LSUS averages over eight runs a game and ten players have recorded ten or more RBI.

On the mound, LSUS has seen nine different players start a game this season, while 14 pitchers have appeared for the Pilots. LSU-Shreveport has a team-ERA of 3.78 and opponents swing at a clip of just .230. The Pilot staff has registered 241 strikeouts and allowed 217 hits in 250.0 innings of work.

Live stats are available for tonight's game here: http://www.sidearmstats.com/saumag/baseball/. Live video will also be provided: https://livestream.com/accounts/10140781.

Be sure to check www.MuleriderAthletics.com or follow us on Twitter @MuleriderSports for the most up-to-date news on Mulerider Baseball.