ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Seventeen hits, six hit-by-pitch and five walks highlighted Southern Arkansas' plate prowess on Tuesday afternoon at Rab Rodgers Field as the Muleriders, behind a two-homer day from junior center fielder Dakota Wright, broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning en route to chasing home 16 runs in the final three frames of action to claim an 18-4 nonconference victory over Ouachita.
 
Wright provided the spark for the Muleriders (25-11) in the fifth inning as his third grand slam of the season plated a trio of seniors in Jacob Richardson, Cortland McPherson and Sam Mrstik. None of the three baserunners reached via a hit as Richardson (HBP) and Mrstik (BB) got on without swinging the bat, while McPherson reached on a fielding error.
 
Southern Arkansas was just getting started at the plate as the Muleriders scored eight more runs in the sixth inning on six hits and a Tiger error. Sophomore infielder Austin Baker reached on an error, stole second base, and advanced to third on a balk all in the inning's first five pitches to set the stage for the big inning.
 
The frame then saw an RBI double by senior Jake Tisevich and back-to-back-to-back singles from the aforementioned trio of Richardson, McPherson, and Mrstik with Richardson's and Mrstik's each plating a run. With one out in the inning and Southern Arkansas leading 9-2, junior catcher Kane Koenigseder knocked in a pair of runs, before Baker, Tisevich and Richardson all recorded RBIs to push the Muleriders out front 14-2.
 
In the seventh, Mrstik led off the inning by being hit-by-pitch and Wright followed with a two-run blast, his seventh of the season, to cap his 3-hit, 3-run, and 6-RBI day at the plate. The final blow from the Mulerider offense came from the bat of Richardson who singled home a pair of runs with two outs in the inning.
 
Junior Dillon Lawrence received the start for SAU and went 4.0 innings on the hill, while scattering five hits and picking up six strikeouts. Classmate Brian Archibald worked the fifth and sixth innings for the Muleriders, before giving way to redshirt freshman Hunter Brantley, who worked around a leadoff walk in his collegiate debut, to prompt a fly out and a pair of pop outs to end the game.
 
All nine starters recorded a hit in the win with Wright, McPherson and freshman shortstop Riley Orr each collecting three hits. Six players scored two or more runs with McPherson, Wright and Mrstik each touching home three times. Richardson added four RBI, while Tisevich, Mrstik and Koenigseder each plated a pair.
 
Southern Arkansas returns to action this weekend on the road in Searcy for a three-game Great American Conference series with Harding. First-pitch times and live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.