MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Senior right-hander
Dalton Algiene was nearly unhittable in Southern Arkansas' 10-0 win against East Central in the first game of Saturday afternoon's doubleheader as Algiene crafted a one-hit shutout against the Tigers. ECU bounced back, however in game two, upending the Muleriders 8-2 to avoid the series sweep.
TEAM RECORDS
East Central Tigers (3-10, 3-3 GAC)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (8-5, 5-1 GAC)
PITCHING DECISIONS – Game 1
W –
Dalton Algiene (3-1)
L – Dylan Sanchez (1-3)
S – NONE
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 1
- A classic pitcher's duel was taking shape over the first three and a half innings before the Muleriders broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run inning. Two of those runs scored on a towering homerun to right field off the bat of Cortland McPherson.
- In their next at-bats, SAU doubled their lead to 6-0 with three more runs in the fourth. As was the case the inning prior, the Muleriders were aided by a pair of defensive errors by the Tigers as all three runs that inning were unearned.
- Two innings later, game one of the twin-bill ended earlier than scheduled as the Muleriders plated four runs to evoke the 10-run rule once more in the series.
- In that inning, the Muleriders collected three hits and benefited from two more ECU errors.
ON THE MOUND – Game 1
- Dalton Algiene was brilliant in his start as he did not surrender a hit until one out in the top of the seventh, which ended up being the final inning. Along the way, he struck out six batters as he registered his career shutout.
- It was the Muleriders' second shutout of the season as a team. The first one came during Algiene's first start of the year as he and two other Muleriders combined for a 6-0 shutout of Oklahoma Christian.
AT THE PLATE – Game 1
PITCHING DECISIONS – Game 2
W – Brandon Dusenberry (2-2)
L –
Kenneth Tabor (2-1)
S – NONE
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 2
- The Muleriders opened up scoring in the second game of the doubleheader in the bottom of the first as Trevor Rucker scored on a fielding error by East Central's starting pitcher Brandon Dusenberry during the at-bat for Cory Gallegos. It was the eighth error defensively for the Tigers on the day.
- That score held until the top of the fourth when the Tigers knotted the game at one-all. That inning began with a leadoff triple to right-center field off the bat of Trevor Huie. Huie's triple was the Tigers' first hit in the game. After a strikeout, the Tigers chased home that tying run on a ground ball to Michael Page at shortstop.
- In the top of the sixth, ECU broke the one-all tie with three runs to take a 4-1 lead. The Muleriders got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame on a RBI groundout by Gallegos.
- The Tigers, however, struck for four more runs in the top of the seventh to bring the game its eventual final of 8-2
ON THE MOUND – Game 2
- Kenneth Tabor got the start for the Muleriders in game two and he was on the downside of the decision. Despite the loss, Tabor pitched well, giving up just two hits while he was on the mound, but was saddled with three earned runs.
AT THE PLATE – Game 2
- SAU collected seven hits as a team and Blake Hall, Trevor Rucker, and Jacob Richardson combined for six of those hits as each had two knocks in the game.
- Rucker scored both of SAU's runs and Gallegos notched the lone RBI.
ON DECK
The Muleriders will step out of conference play briefly and prepare for a mid-week game at home against Texas A&M-Texarkana on Tuesday, February 28. First-pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
