CLEVELAND, Miss. – #25 Southern Arkansas tied the game at one in the third inning of Tuesday evening's midweek clash with longtime Gulf South Conference rival Delta State, but the Statesmen answered in the bottom half of the frame with three runs on one hit and one error to build a 4-1 lead that grew to the contest's final score of 6-1 from DSU's Ferriss Field. SAU outhit Delta State 5-4, but three errors proved costly.
 
The Muleriders (17-7) used three pitchers that were highly effective on Tuesday. The trio allowed only a combined four hits. Freshman Dakota Frachiseur started and went 2.1 innings with just one hit allowed and two earned runs. He walked three. Freshman Isaiah Haynes worked the middle innings tossing 3.1 with two hits and no runs. Freshman Kade Garmany tossed the final 2.1 with just one hit allowed.
 
A wild pitch plated the first DSU run in the second inning and an RBI single in the third pushed home the host's second run of the night. The final four runs all scored without the benefit of a hit as an error chased home the third run with the fourth run, the final of the three-run third, being plated on a sacrifice fly. In the sixth, an RBI sac bunt made it 5-1 and a fielder's choice in the eighth served as the sixth run.
 
Southern Arkansas recorded five hits in the loss with sophomore Riley Orr leading the club with two. Senior Mason Peterson and sophomores Brett McGee and Ty Manning each had a base knock. Junior Tucker Burton was plunked with the bases loaded in the third to bring in the Muleriders' aforementioned run. McGee, Orr and Peterson all stole a base.
 
The Muleriders return to action this weekend in Magnolia for a three-game Great American Conference series against Harding. First pitch for the series opener on Friday, April 9 is set for 6 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.