Box Score MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Senior third baseman Jacob Richardson laced a two-run home run to left field in the home half of the third inning to break a scoreless tie and followed that shot with a solo bomb in the ninth inning, but No. 17 Lindenwood capitalized on several Southern Arkansas miscues in the top of a five-run sixth inning which proved to be the difference in the series opener as the Lions topped the Muleriders 7-5 on Thursday evening inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
Richardson collected two of the Muleriders' three hits, both of which were the aforementioned home runs and added three RBI and two runs scored in a 2-for-4 effort. The other Southern Arkansas hit also left the yard and did so in a gigantic way as junior transfer Dakota Wright muscled a two-out blast to the deepest part of the ballpark in centerfield to bring the Muleriders to within two runs of the LU lead in the ninth inning.
 
Southern Arkansas starter Kenneth Tabor stranded seven base runners in his first five innings of work on the hill, but would not be able to make it out of the sixth inning. Lindenwood finally managed to chase the senior southpaw as they plated a pair of runs to tie the game at 2 runs apiece behind two SAU fielding errors and a walk. Tabor allowed just three hits, but walked four, while striking out seven.
 
Brian Archibald entered in relief of Tabor with no outs and the bases loaded in the sixth and would allow a sacrifice fly and a two-run double as Lindenwood managed just one hit, while capitalizing on two Mulerider errors and three walks in the five-run inning. The Lions would score two more runs in the seventh inning to back starter Tyler Cassmeyer, who went the distance and totaled nine strikeouts.
 
Redshirt freshman Hunter Lewis worked the final two frames for Southern Arkansas, allowing just one hit, in his first career appearance as a Mulerider.
 
The Muleriders resume the series with No. 17 Lindenwood tomorrow, February 9, with a doubleheader slated for a noon start from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Live links for all of the action are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.