Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - #2 Southern Arkansas leaves Hot Springs 3-1 on the season after Monday's action at the Dugan Invitational saw the Muleriders split the day by picking up a 3-2 win over (RV) Washburn, before dropping its tournament finale 4-2 to Rogers State. SAU improved to 9-2 in the Spa City since the start of the 2022 season and to 19-6 in opening weekend games under seventh-year head coach Justin Pettigrew.
 
In the day's opener, the Muleriders led early as Jakob Machuca placed a single into right field to score Chris Lyles in the top of the first inning. The quick advantage backed SAU starter Wyatt Marr who tossed 6.1 innings giving up six hits, a HBP and no earned runs in a strong effort against an Ichabod team that made a Central Region Tournament appearance a season ago. Marr was tabbed with a no decision.
 
In the fourth, SAU executed a double steal as Conner Allen swiped second allowing Lyles to blaze home for the Muleriders' second run.
 
A throwing error to the leadoff batter in the post-stretch seventh allowed a two-run frame to develop for the Ichabods who tied the contest at 2-2 heading into the eighth. In that frame, transfer sophomore Tyler Abrego lifted a one-out pitch into right field for a sacrifice fly that scored pinch runner Peyton Ballard and gave SAU a late 3-2 lead.
 
Sophomore Hayden Hable (W, 1-0) entered in relief of Marr with one away in the seventh and pitched 1.2 innings allowing just one hit as he faced six batters. Junior Isaiah Haynes (S, 2) closed the door on WU in the ninth as he faced four batters in the frame to pick up his second save of the season.
 
Lyles recorded three hits, including a double, in the win and Brandon Nicoll followed with two. SAU stole six bases with Lyles and Allen each nabbing two.
 
Against the Hillcats, SAU held a 2-0 lead through 2 ½ half innings of play as Nicoll homered in the first and played a run on a fielder's choice in the third.
 
A four-hit inning by RSU off of SAU starter Micah Burke in the bottom half of the third inning tied the game at 2. Burke allowed only two hits combined in his other three innings of work.
 
Junior Chance Bolter took over in the fifth and tossed 3.1 innings allowing just two hits and an earned run. Jake Uber pitched the final two-thirds of the eighth. The Muleriders stranded a single runner in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings, while Rogers State used a sacrifice fly in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead before a sacrifice fly in the eighth cushioned the advantage.
 
Brett McGee, Nicoll, Machuca and Abrego accounted for the base knocks. Nicoll and Abrego each scored.
 
For their efforts, seniors Riley Orr and Wyatt Marr were named to the Dugan Invitational All-Tournament team. Orr hit .667 in three games with four hits and two runs scored and Marr was one of four pitchers to not allow an earned run in five plus innings pitched. He threw the second-most innings of any starter at the tournament with 6.1.
 
Southern Arkansas returns to action on Friday, February 10 for a 2:30 p.m. first-pitch against Missouri Western as part of the Henderson State Invitational in Arkadelphia. SAU beat MWSU twice last season and are 10-0 against the Griffons since 2005. Live coverage links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.