Russellville, Ark. – The SAU Baseball team split their doubleheader with Arkansas Tech on Monday, with a pair of games decided by 11 and seven runs, respectively, with the Muleriders run-ruling the first game before dropping the series finale.

Game one saw the Muleriders push across four runs in the first inning – Cooper King went yard for the fourth time this season and Cole Boyd drew a hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 4-0 before the hosts even had an at-bat.

The Wonder Boys pulled back a run in both the first and third innings to half the deficit.

Zach Muldoon hit his second home run of the season in the fifth inning to make it 5-2.

The Muleriders scored nine runs in the sixth inning – an RBI single from Roberto Diaz started the proceedings, followed by bases loaded walks by King, Muldoon and Dakota Wright. Josh Walker cleared the bases with his fifth home run of the season, a grand slam to right field to make it 14-2. The hosts tacked on one more run to put the game at its final score of 14-3.

Hunter Brantley picked up the win, pitching six innings and allowing five hits and two runs, walking four and striking out three. Austin Stubber pitched the final inning in relief, allowing one run on one hit and two walks.

Game two was a different story for both teams – the Wonder Boys put up five runs in the first inning before Kane Koenigseder and Muldoon hit RBI singles to make the score 5-3. The home team put up five more runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-3 and added runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to give them 12 runs.

A fifth-inning Koenigseder sacrifice fly and seventh inning Koenigseder home run accounted for the final two Mulerider runs.
Parker Abrego took the loss, lasting 2.2 innings and allowing nine hits and ten runs (eight earned). The freshman walked two batter and threw three wild pitches before Tanner Vaught replaced him in relief. Vaught threw the next 2.1 innings, allowing four hits and two runs before Ryan Williams entered the game and threw a perfect sixth inning.

The Muleriders are now 24-15 on the season and 18-8 in conference play. They return to action tomorrow to take on Mississippi College before hosting Ouachita in a three-game conference series.