MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Despite winds consistently blowing out from the south at around 12 to 15 mph on Sunday afternoon, most of the single-game record eight home runs hit by #25 Southern Arkansas needed no assistance leaving the yard as the Muleriders pushed across 19 runs on 15 hits to rout Northwestern Oklahoma State 19-7 (7) in the Great American Conference series finale from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.

Senior Kobe Morris hammered three home runs to tie the single-game program record (done six times) and sophomore Ty Manning blasted a pair, while freshman Chris Lyles, sophomore Brett McGee and junior Jacob Martinez each left the yard in the win.
 
The Muleriders (15-3, 6-3 GAC) answered the Rangers' lone run in the top of the first inning as Manning (3-run) and Morris (Solo) went back-to-back to give SAU an early 4-1 lead. NWOSU scratched a single run in the third inning to cut into the deficit, before Manning' second deep fly (2-run) in as many at bats put Southern Arkansas ahead 6-2 through three innings.
 
After Northwestern Oklahoma (7-12, 4-5 GAC) responded with one run in the fourth, the Mulerider bats heated back up and would stay hot through the duration of the run-rule affair as they plated four runs in the fourth inning and placed a nine-spot on the board in the fifth inning to take a 19-3 lead.
 
In the home half of the fourth inning it was a three-run dinger by Lyles, the first of his career, and a solo deposit by McGee that accounted for the scoring. An inning later, Morris touched 'em all with his second solo shot of the afternoon and following sophomore Riley Orr crossing home on a balk (the lone non-RBI for the Muleriders in the win) and an RBI single from senior Austin Baker that plated redshirt-freshman Matt Aiken, Martinez cranked a grand slam off of the Wilkins Stadium concession stand to put SAU up 17-3.
 
Morris finished the fifth inning scoring the same way he started it; with a tank, this one of the two-run variety, out to deep centerfield that gave the Muleriders a 16-run advantage.
 
The Rangers' Marques Page hit a pair of home runs on Sunday, including a grand slam in the sixth inning that put a minor dent into the Mulerider lead at 19-7. The teams combined for 10 home runs on Sunday and 13 total for the series as SAU hit 11. The team entered the weekend series with 14 home runs and witnessed nearly half of that total exit Walker Stadium in 23 innings.
 
The previous single-game home run record by SAU was seven against Arkansas Tech in 1987.
 
Every starter recorded a hit with senior Mason Peterson leading the team with a 4-for-4 effort and three runs scored. McGee and Morris also scored three runs, and four other Muleriders scored twice. Morris and Martinez each recorded four RBI and Lyles added three, while Manning's five RBI led the team and are the most by a Mulerider in a single game this season.
 
Junior southpaw Hunter Brantley picked up his third win of the season in five inning of work, while freshman Kade Garmany pitched the final two innings as the Muleriders captured their 66^th series win over GAC opposition since joining the league in 2011-12.
 
Southern Arkansas is back in action on Tuesday, March 3, as they renew an old rivalry with former Gulf South Conference foe and perennial national power #23 Delta State. First-pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.