MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas baseball team secured their first Great American Conference series victory of the season as they won the opening game of Monday afternoon's twinbill against Southeastern Oklahoma State by a score of 9-5. Southeastern staved off the series sweep by the Muleriders, however, claiming the finale 8-3 to force the split.
 
TEAM RECORDS
Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm (4-6, 1-2 GAC)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (6-4, 2-1 GAC)
 
PITCHING DECISION – Game 1
W – Jacob Stroder (2-1)
L – Greg Hubbell (0-1)
S – Eric White (2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Southeastern jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two and a half innings of play thanks to RBIs by Brett Akins in the second and third innings, and a RBI single by Joseph Cerda also in the third.
• SAU then pushed across a pair runs in the bottom of the third as Jacob Richardson doubled to left-centerfield, scoring Nathan Stubber, who came on as a pinch-runner for Sam Mrstik following his double. Later in the inning, Richardson came around to score as the Savage Storm shortstop dropped a fly ball hit by Dakota Wright that would have been the third out of the inning.
• In the fourth, Southeastern loaded the bases with no outs against SAU starter Hunter Vasquez, prompting a call to the bullpen and Jacob Stroder. Stroder would get the first man he faced to flyout for a sacrifice fly.
• The next batter attempted a safety squeeze bunt that went right in front of the plate allowing Stroder to charge in and scoop-toss the ball to the waiting Zach Muldoon to apply the tag at the plate for the second out. Following a walk, Stroder got the final out of the inning on an unassisted groundout to Mark Fontenot at first base.
• That minimized damage in the top of the frame kept the game close and SAU once more cut it to a one-run game as Stubber doubled to score Muldoon.
• Stroder pitched a scoreless fifth inning, and in the bottom of the frame, the Mulerider offense broke out for five runs on five hits as they turned a one-run deficit into a four-run lead.
• Fontenot sparked that inning with a lead-off single. Following a strikeout, Cortland McPherson picked up his first hit of the season, singling to right field. Trevanion then singled to left-centerfield to score Fontenot and tie the score at four-all. A walk to Riley Orr loaded the bases with one out, but the Southeastern starter Greg Hubell picked up another strikeout for the second out. Austin Baker then doubled down the left field line to score McPherson and Trevanion and make it a 6-4 game in favor of SAU. The next pitch, Stubber doubled as well, scoring Orr and Baker and giving SAU an 8-4 lead.
• Neither team scored in the sixth but added single runs in the seventh to bring the score to its eventual final of 9-5.

 
ON THE MOUND

• Hunter Vasquez got the start for the Muleriders, but did not factor into the decision. He struck out the first three men he faced and six total, but Southeastern eventually was able to chase him in the fourth with the bases loaded and no outs.
• Jacob Stroder came on in relief and worked out of the jam by allowing just one of Vasquez's runs to score on a sacrifice fly. Stroder would go on to pick up the win in relief as he pitched the next 3.1 innings. In that time, Stroder allowed five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out three.
• Eric White handled the final eight outs for the Muleriders en route to earning his second save of the season. In 2.2 innings pitched, White allowed just one hit and struck out five.

 
AT THE PLATE

• The Muleriders tallied 11 hits in the game, marking the fourth time this season that they have registered double-digit hits.
• Austin Baker, Nathan Stubber and James Trevanion all had multiple hits with Baker pacing the team with three hits as he went 3-for-5. Stubber was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs after coming off the bench as a pinch runner in the third inning. Trevanion was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, and a RBI.

 
PITCHING DECISION – Game 2
W – Bryce Deatherage (1-0)
L – Dillon Lawrence (1-1)
S – NONE
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Southeastern took another early lead as Easton Elliot singled up the middle in the top of the first to give the Savage Storm a 1-0 lead.
• In the bottom of the second, James Trevanion tied the game at one-all as he doubled to left field, scoring Mark Fontenot.
• A half inning later, the Savage Storm re-took the lead thanks to a three-run home run off the bat of Elliot. In the bottom of that third inning, Nathan Stubber connected for his first career home run as he left the yard out to left for a solo shot, trimming the SAU deficit to two runs, 4-2.
• Southeastern, however, quickly regained a four-run advantage as Joseph Cerda hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth.
• A RBI double by Jacob Richardson in the fifth made it a 6-3 game, but single runs by the Savage Storm in the sixth and seventh innings provided the needed insurance for Southeastern to salvage the series finale, 8-3.

 
ON THE MOUND

• Dillon Lawrence made his second start of the season and took the loss after pitching 2.1 innings. In his time on the mound, Lawrence gave up three hits and four earned runs.
• Brian Archibald registered eight outs in relief and he piled up six strikeouts, but allowed a pair of runs on two hits.
• Nick Starr pitched the final two innings and allowed four hits and two runs (one earned). Starr would pick up two strikeouts as well.

 
AT THE PLATE

• Six Muleriders collected a base hit in the second game, but Jake Tisevich was the lone batter to register multiple hits as he went 3-for-3.
• Nathan Stubber, Jacob Richardson and James Trevanion each had a RBI with Richardson and Trevanion's coming on doubles while Stubber's came on his first career home run.

 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will have a quick turnaround as they are scheduled to play a non-conference game against Henderson State tomorrow (Tuesday) night. First-pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.