WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Trailing 7-4 entering the eighth inning of Friday afternoon's Great American Conference series opener, #19 Southern Arkansas rallied with a seven-run frame in the top half, plated a single run in the ninth inning and received a pair of solid innings in relief by senior Matt Kortendick, who faced the minimum, to top Southwestern Oklahoma 12-7. The Muleriders improve to 17-3 on the season with a 7-3 mark in league play.
 
Preceding Kortendick's six-batter stint was 1.2 innings from freshman Kade Garmany (W, 3-0) who allowed just two hits in relief of Mulerider starter Zach Smith who went 5.1 innings with eight hits and seven runs; only three of which were earned.
 
SAU answered three Bulldog runs in the third inning with a trio of runs of their own in the fourth as sophomore Riley Orr and senior Austin Baker each recorded an RBI, while Baker scored on a fielding error later in the inning.
 
After an RBI single in the fourth gave SWOSU back the lead, sophomore Ty Manning tied the game with a solo home run to right center field in the fifth inning.
 
In the sixth inning, Southwestern Oklahoma used another three-run frame to build a 7-4 lead and with just six outs to work with, the Muleriders responded in the eighth with a plentiful run-scoring sequence.
 
An RBI single by junior Jacob Martinez plated Baker and a two-run single from Manning scored sophomore Brett McGee and Martinez to tie the game at seven. The go-ahead run came from the bat of senior Kobe Morris who pushed home classmate Mason Peterson with a RBI single, while the insurance runs came from an RBI single by senior Zach Muldoon, a two-run blast by senior Josh Walker and a run scored by Manning in the ninth which made it 12-7.
 
The Muleriders and Bulldogs decide a series winner on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for a noon start. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.