WEATHERFORD, Okla. – #4 Southern Arkansas manufactured nine runs across the fourth, fifth and sixth innings combined of Monday's Great American Conference series finale at Southwestern Oklahoma State, held off the Bulldogs in the eighth and used a four-run tenth to sweep the series. The Muleriders have won 11 straight games and Monday's result marks the first 6-0 start to league play under sixth-year head coach Justin Pettigrew.
 
The Muleriders (11-1, 6-0 GAC) erupted for 18 hits and had to overcome a 5-0 deficit through three innings of play. A four-run fourth inning saw RBI hits by Conner Allen, Riley Orr and Brett McGee, the two-run fifth came courtesy of a fielding error at first in Orr's at bat, and the three-run sixth included the first of two home runs for Tucker Burton on the day, this one of the two-run variety that exited to center field, and a solo pinch hit homer out to center field from the bat of Josh Walker.
 
SWOSU would answer with one run in the sixth as the Muleriders carried a 9-6 lead into the seventh inning. In the visiting half of the eighth, Burton again left the yard with a solo round tripper to right centerfield giving SAU its tenth run and its seventh game this season with ten-plus in the run column. The Bulldogs responded in the eighth with a four-run frame off of three hits that knotted the contest at 10.
 
SAU stranded the potential go-ahead run at second in the ninth, but it was Jacob Martinez (1B LS), Ty Manning (HBP) and Jakob Machuca (1B 6) that stuck to the task at hand and all reached in consecutive at bats to start the productive tenth. Orr delivered with a go-ahead two-run single into left field and several at bats later, Brandon Nicoll matched Orr's effort with a two-run single through the left side to cushion the relief effort of Chance Bolter who worked the ninth and tenth to earn the win. Bolter allowed just one hit and struck out a pair to pick up his victory as a Mulerider.
 
Burton's two homers and three hits by both Martinez and Orr highlighted the tremendous day offensively. Burton and Orr each had three RBI. Martinez and Manning both scored three times. SAU walked six times and was HBP five times with Manning taking three of those.
 
There's quick turnarounds and there's what Southern Arkansas will do. The Muleriders will return to Magnolia to then hit the road for a Tuesday afternoon first pitch against Mississippi College at 2 p.m. in Clinton, Mississippi. Live coverage links for the midweek bout will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.