MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas senior third baseman
Jacob Richardson had an ultra-productive day at the plate as he drove in eight runs across both games of the doubleheader against Ouachita on Saturday afternoon at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Richardson's run-production helped the Muleriders take both games of the twin-bill by scores of 17-4 and 7-3, and in the process the series sweep.
| LINE SCORE – GAME 1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Tigers (10-23, 6-14 GAC) |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| #24 Muleriders (21-9, 15-5 GAC) |
5 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
X |
17 |
15 |
0 |
PITCHING DECISIONS – GAME 1
W –
Jacob Stroder (6-2)
L – Adam Bahloul (1-3)
S – NONE
ON THE MOUND – GAME 1
- Jacob Stroder started the opening game on Saturday and pitched 6.0 solid innings as he picked up his sixth win of the season.
- In his time on the mound, Stroder scattered three hits, walked one and allowed two earned runs. He also registered nine strikeouts in the game; his second-most in a game this season.
- Two relievers followed Stroder for the final inning of the run-rule shortened game with Connor Wells registering an out and JP Casey the last two to end the game.
AT THE PLATE – GAME 1
- As a team, the Muleriders cranked out 15 hits in game one. It was the 15th time this season that SAU has recorded double-digit hits and the 15 hits tie a season-best, initially set back in the series-opener versus Southern Nazarene.
- Nearly half of the hits went for extra-bases as the Muleriders totaled four doubles and three home runs.
- Dakota Wright went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and drove in four runs.
- Sam Mrstik and Riley Orr also doubled in the game.
- Jacob Richardson hit a grand slam in the fifth to give him his four RBIs in the game.
- Cortland McPherson followed up Richardson's granny with a solo homer to right field. It was McPherson's second homer of the game as he hit a two-run shot in the first inning to jumpstart the scoring for the Muleriders.
| LINE SCORE – GAME 2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Tigers (10-24, 6-15 GAC) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
| #24 Muleriders (22-9, 16-5 GAC) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
X |
7 |
7 |
2 |
PITCHING DECISIONS – GAME 2
W –
Kenneth Tabor (7-1)
L – Bo Sutton (1-4)
S –
Nick Starr (3)
ON THE MOUND – GAME 2
- Kenneth Tabor improved to 7-1 on the season as he pitched 5.0 innings of one-run baseball. In his time on the mound, Tabor scattered three hits, walked one and struck out five.
- In what was a pitcher's duel through five complete innings, SAU turned to the bullpen in the top of the sixth and brought on Nick Starr to preserve a one-run Mulerider lead.
- Starr held the Tigers scoreless in the sixth, but surrendered a pair of runs in the seventh. Despite that, Starr still notched his third save of the season thanks to five runs of insurance by the Muleriders in the bottom of the fifth.
AT THE PLATE – GAME 2
- The offense that was on display by the Muleriders in game one was slowed some early in the nightcap as they had just two hits through five innings.
- In the bottom of the sixth, however, the offense cranked back up with five runs on five hits in the frame.
- Zach Muldoon led off that inning with a roasted single into left-centerfield off the glove of the shortstop. Riley Orr followed that up with a double in the gap in left-centerfield. A walk to Austin Baker then loaded the bases. Two batters later, Richardson singled through the left side to chase home Muldoon and Orr. McPherson then singled home Baker to make it 5-1, SAU.
- A sacrifice bunt and RBI by Nathan Stubber and a RBI single up the middle by James Trevanion capped the insurance scoring for SAU.
- As a team, the Muleriders totaled seven hits with Richardson pacing the club with a 2-for-3 effort. He also drove in four runs in the game to match his total from earlier in the day.
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare for an eight-game road trip beginning first with a non-conference game at Arkansas Tech on Tuesday, April 3. First-pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
