Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
Zach Smith vs. ECU (3-19-21)_Kenli Barner)_web
Kenli Barner
1
East Central ECU 2-12, 2-8 GAC
5
Winner Southern Arkansas SAU 10-5, 6-4 GAC
East Central ECU
2-12, 2-8 GAC
1
Final
5
Southern Arkansas SAU
10-5, 6-4 GAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
East Central ECU 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1
Southern Arkansas SAU 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 X 5 7 0

W: Smith, Zach (2-1) L: Spencer Johnston (0-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | By: Jacob Pumphrey

Smith Dominates as Muleriders Take GAC Opener from East Central

Southern Arkansas picks up third straight win and sixth in past seven games as Mulerider starter throws 8.0 strong innings

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Senior right hander Zach Smith tossed eight innings, scattered a mere three hits, worked around five walks and allowed only one run as he fanned five to give Southern Arkansas a 5-1 win over East Central in Great American Conference action on Friday night from inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. The Muleriders (10-5, 6-4 GAC) received seven hits from seven different players, while five scored a single run in the league victory.
 
With one out in the third, Hayden George singled home a run, the only hit off of Smith in the game's first five innings, to give the Tigers (2-12, 2-8 GAC) a 1-0 lead. The run-producing base knock scored Tanner Barnes who reached on a leadoff walk.
 
Southern Arkansas responded in the ensuing half inning as the Muleriders used a leadoff walk of their own with senior Kobe Morris reaching first. Junior Jacob Martinez followed with a single into right field to put runners at first and second, before junior Tucker Burton walked to load the bases for sophomore Brett McGee.
 
McGee pushed across the Muleriders' first run as he skied a pitch out to right center field to plate Morris via a sacrifice fly and tie the game at one. With runners at the corners, sophomore Ty Manning lifted a pitch down the left field line for a three-run blast that capped the four-run third inning.
 
Smith worked around a slight ECU threat in the top of the sixth as a pair of runners reached with two outs in the frame prior to Smith inducing one of his eight groundouts on the night to end the inning. Smith's efforts stranded eight Tigers on the base paths.
 
The Muleriders added a single run in the eighth inning as Baker reached with two outs after being hit-by-pitch. He quickly stole second and third, before being chased home on a throwing error that sailed into left field as the Tigers attempted to cut down the senior in his swiping of third base.
 
Baker's two stolen bases gives him a team-leading eight this season and his leadoff double in the home half of the first inning was the 203rd hit of his Mulerider career which ties him with Chad Cope (1997-00) for tenth all-time in program history.
 
Sophomore Remy Bilodeau worked in relief of Smith in the ninth inning and pitched around a pair of walks to strike out two and give SAU an advantage heading into Saturday's doubleheader which is slated for a 1 p.m. start. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
 
Print Friendly Version