MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Baseball team held the East Central Tigers scoreless through both games of tonight's double header in Magnolia. The Muleriders dismissed ECU 18-0 in game one in a 13-hit effort that featured four extra base hits and a dominant outing from pitcher Jeremy Adorno. Mikel Howell showed up for the Muleriders in game two, holding the Tigers hitless until the final inning, and striking out 12 over the 7.0 innings. Hit effort from the mound fueled an 8-0 win over the Ada, Oklahoma team. Southern Arkansas and East Central will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow with a 1 p.m. first pitch inside the Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Live coverage links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.

GAME ONE 

Southern Arkansas Notes 

*Every single one of the Muleriders' starting nine recorded an RBI in game one. Junior Chris Sutton led the effort with four RBI while junior Brandon Nicoll and senior Riley Orr recorded two each.

*Adorno threw six straight strikes to begin the matchup and struckout the first two ECU batters. He retired the third batter through a foul fly to the left fielder to record just a seven-pitch first inning. Adorno fanned the first two batters of the second inning as well and allowed a walk before striking out ECU's fourth batter. Adorno continued to dominate from the mound and strikeout batters throughout his outing, fanning 12 by the end if his 6.0 innings.

*McGinnis notched SAU's first hit of the game in the second inning, singling through the left side to advance Chris Lyles to second. Allen followed in suit with a hit of his own to left field, scoring Lyles in the process. Tyler Abrego walked to load the bases for the Muleriders with zero outs. Orr walked in the team's second run of the inning and kept the bases loaded for Sutton who doubled perfectly down the left field line to score Abrego and Allen. Nicoll wrapped up the Muleriders' five-run inning with a sacrifice fly that brought Orr home.

*The Muleriders loaded the bases once again in the fourth after Orr singled, Sutton was hit by a pitch and McGee walked. Nicoll brought two runners home with a 0-out single to right field to place himself and McGee at the corners. Richardson singled to center and advanced to second on the throw, scoring McGee in the process. Lyles scored the fourth run of the inning with a sac fly that scored Nicoll. Southern Arkansas continued their scoring rally with two outs after Richardson was picked off at second. McGinnis and Abrego singles as well as an Allen HPB loaded the bases for the fourth time through five, which allowed Orr to walk in SAU's 10th run of the game.

*Nicoll became SAU's first base runner of the fifth, doubling before Richardson joined him after being hit by a pitch. McGinnis notched his third hit of the game when he singled to score Nicoll and advance Richardson to third. Once again, SAU would load the bases as Conner Allen drew a walk, allowing Abrego and Orr to walk in SAU's second and third runs of the inning. Sutton singled and McGee doubled to record two RBI each and conclude the Muleriders' seven-run inning.

*Zach Rennard took over batting responsibilities for Allen in the sixth and doubled to right to score Mikey Mcginnis.

*Dawson Hurford took over responsibilities on the mound, coming in for the final inning 1.0 innings where he struck out two, allowed zero hits and one walk.

East Central Notes 

*East Central was held scoreless for the third time this season and only saw two hits.

*Clayton Solomon (4.0) and Bryce Crawford (2.0) split pitching responsibilities for the Tigers, striking out a combined three batters and walking 12. They ECU pitching staff faced 45 batters versus SAU's 26.

GAME TWO 

Southern Arkansas Notes 

*As crazy as it sounds, the Muleriders first hit of the game scored three runs. Three hit by pitches scattered between two outs loaded the bases for McGinnis who doubled down the right field line to score Richardson, McGee and Sutton. Allen followed with a single to send McGinnis home and score SAU's fourth and final run of the first inning.

*SAU saw runs in the second inning as well, with Orr scoring on a wild pitch and Nicoll notching SAU's second triple of the season, scoring McGee in the process. The team was held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, but McGinnis hit a long fly ball to left center that scored Lyles in the fifth. McGee proceeded to hit a triple in the sixth to record the Muleriders' first multi-triple game since March 19, 2022 against, you guessed it, East Central. Nicoll gave McGee his fourth bag, knocking a single through the left side to score the senior.

*Mikel Howell tossed all 7.0 innings for the Muleriders, facing just 26 batters and striking out a season-high 12 batters.

East Central Notes 

*East Central was held hitless until the top of the seventh when Nolan Hercho singled through the left side, earning the Tigers just their second base runner of the game, and Kyle Busker followed with a double. Nick Blanken walked to load the bases for ECU, but a fielders choice forced the runner out at home. Dione Allen struck out to leave three Tigers stranded on base and leave the team scoreless in both games.