WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southern Arkansas senior outfielder Jake Tisevich went 3-for-5 and drove in five runs as his bat helped carry the Muleriders past Southwestern Oklahoma by a score of 9-5 in game one of the series on Friday night at the SWOSU Athletic Complex.
 
TEAM RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (15-7, 9-4 GAC)
Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs (14-10, 9-4 GAC)
 
PITCHING DECISIONS
W – Hunter Vasquez (3-1)
L – Cooper Cantwell (3-2)
S – Eric White (4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The makings of a pitcher's duel appeared to be taking shape early on as both lineups combined for just two hits and no score over the first three innings of play.
• In the top of the fourth, SAU broke through with a run on two hits to take a 1-0 lead. In that inning, Austin Baker led off with double to left-center. He was then chased home by a double to the opposite gap off the bat of Jake Tisevich.
• An inning later, Tisevich came through again, this time with a three-run home run out centerfield to give the Muleriders a 5-0 lead.
• The Bulldogs got on the board themselves in the bottom of the frame with a single run on two hits.
• In the sixth, SWOSU threatened the Muleriders lead in a big way as they had the potential tying run in scoring positon with no outs after scoring two runs previously that inning to cut the Mulerider lead in half, 5-3. Reliever Eric White was then called upon to work out of the jam and junior right-hander would do just that, but not before SWOSU plated a run to suddenly make it a one-run game, 5-4.
• That SWOSU rally gained momentum off of SAU starter Hunter Vasquez, who had pitched brilliantly through his first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. In his first five innings, Vasquez had allowed just four hits and one run while striking out seven.
• The next half inning, SAU regained the momentum as they scored four runs on three hits while also benefitting from a SWOSU error as the three Mulerider runs that inning were unearned. The biggest blow that inning was a top of the wall-banging, bases-clearing triple by Cortland McPherson.
• SWOSU would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning to bring the score to its eventual final of 9-5.

 
ON THE MOUND

• Hunter Vasquez picked up his third win of the season and improved to 3-1. The senior right-hander's final line saw him pitch 5.0 innings, allow seven hits and four runs (three earned) while striking out seven and walking none.
• Over his last three starts, Vasquez has struck out 28 batters across 17.0 innings.
• Eric White pitched the final four innings on the mound as he nailed down his fourth save of the season.
• In his time on the mound, White scattered three hits and allowed one unearned run. He would walk no one and strike out five.

 
AT THE PLATE

• The Muleriders totaled 10 hits in the game with three tallying multiple hits.
• Austin Baker and Jake Tisevich did a great job sparking the offense at the top of the order as both were 3-for-5 in the game. Baker scored three runs thanks in part to Tisevich's game-high five RBIs.
• James Trevanion was the other Mulerider with multiple hits as he went 2-for-4.
• Cortland McPherson joined Tisevich with multiple RBIs as he totaled three with his bases-clearing triple.

 
ON DECK
The Muleriders and Bulldogs will decide the series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at noon.