MAGNOLIA, Ark. – If #25 Southern Arkansas' Great American Conference series opener vs. Harding on Saturday is any indication of what Sunday's series-deciding doubleheader will have in store, then those in attendance are in for a wild afternoon as the Muleriders and Bisons combined for 21 runs on 26 hits which ended with Harding holding off SAU late to claim an 11-10 win from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
 
There was no panic from the Mulerider bats after the early predicament of a six-run deficit through two innings. Southern Arkansas chipped away at the Bisons' lead as two runs in the second, third and fifth innings off of HU starter Andrew Bradshaw brought the Muleriders to within a run of the Harding lead at 7-6 after the Bisons added a single run in the visiting half of the fourth inning.
 
A four-run top of the seventh inning staked Harding reliever Ryder Yakel to a five-run cushion as the Muleriders trailed 11-6 following the stretch. Southern Arkansas again responded as sophomore Riley Orr plated a pair with a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning that cut the visitor's deficit to 11-8. The threat continued for SAU following a visit to the mound by Harding as senior Austin Baker traded places with Orr on a drive into centerfield to pull the Muleriders to within two runs of the lead.
 
In the ninth inning, the Muleriders went back to applying pressure as freshman Chris Lyles recorded a pinch hit sacrifice fly to plate junior Jacob Martinez and pull the Muleriders to within a run of tying the contest at 11. With runners at first and second and two away, Southern Arkansas was unable to push across the tying run as the Muleriders stranded seven total baserunners in the opener.
 
Baker recorded three hits, including two doubles, to move into a tie for seventh place on the all-time hits list with 215. Sophomore Brett McGee collected three hits including a double. Junior Tucker Burton deposited a solo shot which arguably entered commercial air space on its way out to right centerfield in the third inning and then parked his second solo blast of the game and eighth of the season out to right field in the fifth inning. McGee and Burton both scored three runs. Sophomores Ty Manning and Riley Orr each drove in two runs. Seven of SAU's dozen hits went for extra bases on Saturday.
 
SAU starter Zach Smith lasted six innings in the loss as he allowed 13 hits with six earned runs charged to his ledger. He faced 32 batters, including 11 in Harding's six-run second, and struck out three, while inducing six groundouts and seven fly outs. Junior Reed Osborn relieved freshman Santos Sosa, who tossed the seventh inning, and in his Mulerider debut he recorded his first career strikeout as he allowed only one walk.
 
The Muleriders and Bisons hit the diamond on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.