MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech split a doubleheader on Friday inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. The Muleriders won the opener 5-3, while the Wonder Boys staved off an SAU rally in the seventh inning of game two to spilt the day and set the stage for a critical rubber match on Saturday with just four Great American Conference games remaining in the regular season and four postseason tickets left to be punched.
 
In the opener, Southern Arkansas (27-15, 19-10 GAC) received another stellar outing from senior Hunter Vasquez who tossed eight innings of five-hit ball, while allowing no earned runs and striking out seven. Junior Nick Starr worked the ninth in relief of Vasquez to pick up his fourth save of the season in a quick 12-pitch appearance.
 
The three Wonder Boy runs in game one came across in the fifth inning as a two-out fielding error allowed two runs to score, and the inning to continue as Arkansas Tech cut into a 4-0 Mulerider lead with three runs on two hits and an error in the frame.
 
Southern Arkansas would plate its final run in the seventh in support of Vasquez, who did not allow a hit in his final three innings or work on the hill to improve to 6-2 on the year.
 
Seven Muleriders recorded a hit in the opener and of the dozen base knocks the club collected, sophomore Austin Baker was responsible for a third of them as he finished 4-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Senior Jake Tisevich and junior Dakota Wright each added a pair of hits, while Tisevich added two RBI.
 
In the nightcap, Arkansas Tech claimed a 6-5 victory, but not before the Muleriders threatened to walkoff the Wonder Boys to claim the series. Trailing 6-1 through four innings of play, with the lone SAU run coming on a solo blast off the bat of senior Sam Mrstik in the second inning, the Muleriders began to rally.
 
Consecutive run-scoring singles from Tisevich and classmate Jacob Richardson with two outs in the fifth inning plated a pair of runs to pull the Muleriders to within three runs of the Tech lead.
 
With two outs in the seventh inning, Richardson walked to load the bases giving way to senior Cortland McPherson who reached on an infield single that eventually resulted in a two-run throwing error and the Muleriders pulling within a run of forcing extra innings with runners at the corners. However, a fielder's choice would end the game in the next at bat as the two teams picked up pivotal wins on Friday.
 
Freshman Riley Orr went 3-for-3 in the loss with two runs scored. Baker scored two runs and was one of six Muleriders to pick up a single hit. On the mound, senior Kenneth Tabor suffered the loss in 3.2 innings of work. Junior Dillon Lawrence pitched the final 3.1 innings in relief and allowed just two hits.
 
The Muleriders and Wonder Boys meet in the series rubber match Saturday, April 21, at 1 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.