MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University baseball team concludes a seven-game homestand this evening with a non-conference game against LSU-Shreveport. It will be the 28^th meeting between the two since the start of the 2001 season and in that time, SAU holds a 16-11 advantage over the Pilots.
 
The Muleriders head into the contest with LSU-Shreveport having won three-straight and five of their last six after sweeping Oklahoma Baptist this past weekend at home. The Muleriders are also now ranked No. 25 in Division II according to the latest Collegiate Baseball Top-30 poll released on Monday. LSU-Shreveport will also enter the game nationally ranked as they checked in at No. 13 in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top-25 poll released on Tuesday/
 
Statistically, the Muleriders will enter play this evening hitting .299 as a team and have a 4.00 team ERA. Through the first 16 games, the Muleriders have scored 107 runs offensively while the pitching staff has tossed a pair of shutouts.
 
Individually, the Muleriders have three players hitting over .350 with Trevor Rucker leading the club at .414 (24-for-58). Newcomer Mark Fontenot is next in hitting at .388 (19-for-49), and he and Rucker are tied with the team lead in homeruns with four. Josey Langston is the final batter over .350 with an average of .351 (20-of-57) through 16 games played.
 
On the mound, Dalton Algiene leads the team in wins (4), ERA (1.20), innings pitched (30.0), and strikeouts (38). Fellow starter Connor Wells has over 30 strikeouts and sports a sub-2 ERA as well. In terms of relief appearances, Makenzy Larsen has appeared in the most games (8) and he is 2-0 with a 0.61 ERA in 14.2 innings pitched.
 
For LSU-Shreveport, they enter with a 15-4 overall record and are hitting .338 as a team with 31 doubles, seven triples, 13 homeruns, and 137 runs scored. On the mound, the Pilots have a 4.00 team ERA and have struck out 144 opposing batters while issuing 80 bases on balls.
 
The Pilots leading hitter is David Salgueiro at .424 (25-for-59). The leading RBI man is Kevin VanAsselberg with 15 and Kevin Rosario and Matthew Hammock are tied for the team lead in homeruns with three apiece.
 
On the mound, the Pilots have thrown 16 different arms with eight of those receiving starts. Alex Naiser and Cade Gibson lead the team in victories with three each.