Baseball | 3/8/2019 2:10:00 PM

Magnolia, Ark. - The SAU Baseball team host Southwestern Oklahoma State in a three-game conference series on Sunday and Monday. The series, orignally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, was pushed back due to incliment weather. This series marks the second through fourth game for the Muleriders in a eight-game homestand that started on Wednesday in a midweek game loss to #1 Delta State.

The Bulldogs are 9-8 on the season and 5-4 in conference play. The Bulldogs opned their conference schedule with a sweep over East Central, including a no-hitter thrown by Cooper Cantwell and Haden Branch. They have since lost two of three each against Southeastern Oklahoma State and Arkansas-Monticello, but are coming off a midweek extra-inning win against University of Science and Arts. As a team, they are hitting .233 on the season and have a team ERA of 4.29. The offense is led by Alex Pimintel, who is hitting .354 on the season with four doubles and a team-high 13 RBIs. On the mound, they are led by Cooper Cantwell, who has been named GAC Pitcher of the Week twice this season. Cantwell has a 3.34 ERA on the season, striking out 22 batters and only allowing four walks in 32.1 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .205 against Cantwell.

The Muleriders are 13-5 on the season and 8-1 in conference, with sweeps of Henderson State and Northwestern Oklahoma State sandwiching a 2-1 weekend against Harding. The Muleriders are coming into this off the back of a 5-2 midweek loss to #1 Delta State. Offensively, the Muleriders are led by Austin Baker. Baker is hitting .378 on the season with five doubles and 14 RBIs. On the mound, Matt Kortendick has been the standout from the bullpen. The junior reliever has picked up either a win or a save in his eight appearances this season with three wins and five saves, including a pair of saves last weekend against the Rangers. Kortendick has not allowed a run all season, with 13 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched. Opponents are only hitting .156 against the Muleriders' closer.

After this weekend, the Muleriders host Henderson State in a midweek non-conference game before hosting East Central in a three-game conference series to close out this homestand.