MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Playing in their first home midweek contest of the season, the #6 Southern Arkansas University baseball team fell 10-7 to Delta State University on Wednesday evening. The Muleriders scored five runs over the course of the final four frames, but the comeback fell short as the Statesmen bats stayed hot all game outhitting SAU 17-11.

Delta State scored eight runs over the course of the first four innings to take an early 8-1 lead over SAU. The Statesmen scored two runs in the top of the first on a double and an error to lead 2-0 after one, and then one more in the second on a double from Clowers.

Sau struck for one run in the bottom of the second inning as Ty Manning doubled home Jakob Machuca. DSU was able to plate one more run in the top of the third inning which was followed up by a four spot in the top of the fourth to take an 8-1 lead over SAU.

The Muleriders were able to post one run in the fifth inning on a single by Jacob Martinez up the middle that scored Chris Sutton, followed by two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning that came on a wild pitch that scored Manning. Conner Allen was able to cross home plate on wild pitch to bring the score to 8-4. SAU was able to score one run in each of the final three innings, but DSU was also able to push runs across in the seventh and ninth innings to maintain their lead and take the game 10-7.

Martinez led the Muleriders with three hits to go along with one RBI. Muchuca and Manning both collected two hits, with one of Manning's being a one-run homerun to give him one RBI on the night. Brett McGee, Tucker Burton, Allen and Sutton all collected a hit apiece. Sutton led SAU with two RBI, while Martinez, Manning, McGee, and Allen all had one apiece.

The Muleriders used six different arms in the contest as Jack Liddell got the start, while Delta State used five different pitchers. Parker Abrego had a good showing for SAU has he pitched 3.0 innings and struck out four batters while allowing one run. Liddell took the loss as he gave up five hits, and three runs (two earned). Cade Whitley got the win for DSU.

The #6 ranked Muleriders will be back in action this weekend as they will head to the town up north to take on Ouachita Baptist University in a three game Great American Conference series. The contest has been moved to Saturday/Sunday due to potential rain and wintery mix on Friday. SAU will play a single game on Saturday that is set to start at 2:00 p.m. followed by a double-header on Sunday that will begin at 1:00 p.m.