BETHANY, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Mulerider Baseball squad completed the series sweep over the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm following a 22-7 domination in game three of the weekend series. Southern Arkansas saw 40 runs on the weekend while holding the Storm to 16 throughout the three games. SAU improves to 18-7 on the season and 11-4 in conference play while SNU falls to 13-15 and 5-10 in GAC matchups.
Southern Arkansas Notes
*Have yourself a day Brett McGee. The senior went 3-5 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Riley Orr, Conner Allen and Mikey McGinnis joined the senior in his three-hit effort this afternoon. The trio all recorded two doubles each to combine for six of the ten Mulerider extra base hits. Will Richardson saw the most RBI on the day, driving four runs home on two base knocks.
*Wyatt Marr started things off on the mound for the Muleriders this afternoon. The senior allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven through 5.1. Kaleb Wisnoski and Landon McAllister followed with outings that saw zero runs and zero hits. Hayden Hable finished things off for SAU, tossing 1.0 inning that saw four runs on two hits and one walk.
*It didn't take the Mulerider long at all to get on the board this afternoon in Bethany. Orr and McGee began offense off with back-to-back one-out singles before both Muleriders stole a base to find themselves in scoring position. Conner Allen plated the duo on a two-out double to left field.
*Jackson Duke notched his second extra base hit of the weekend with a double to left center in the top of the fifth. The sophomore advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher which allowed Chris Sutton to plate the Muleriders' third run of the day with a groundout to shortstop. McGee smoked his second home run of the weekend to left field to give the Muleriders a three-run advantage.
*Southern Arkansas loaded the bases with zero outs in the top of the sixth this afternoon following consecutive singles from Allen and Chris Lyles before Mikey McGinnis was hit by a pitch to gain the Muleriders their third base runner. Will Richardson took advantage of the opportunity to plate two on a single up the middle. SAU found themselves with a bases loaded opportunity once again as Jackson Duke was hit by a pitch to become the third base runner. Sutton was tabbed with his second RBI of the afternoon as he took first on a zero-out hit by pitch that plated McGinnis and kept the bases loaded for Orr who doubled to right center to plate the third and fourth runs of the inning and extend the Mulerider lead to eight-runs. Brandon Nicoll flied out to the center fielder, advancing Orr to third and scoring Sutton in the process. Allen doubled to send home SAU's eleventh run of the contest.
*Sothern Arkansas secured the run rule over the Crimson Storm in the top of the eighth inning where they plated 11 runs. Orr led things off with a double to right field before heading home on McGee's second home run of the afternoon. Nicoll wanted a piece of the fun for himself and followed with a homer of his own to right field. Allen and Lyles drew back-to-back one-out walks allowing for one runner in scoring position for a McGinnis one-RBI double to left center. Southern Nazarene's second pitching change of the inning didn't seem to help the Storm out much as Richardson singled up the middle in SAU's seventh plate appearance of the inning to score the fifth and sixth zero-out runs of the inning. Zach Rennard, Peyton Ballad, Tyler Abrego, Jack Roubik and Nicoll drew consecutive walks to plate three more runs and hold the bases full for Jakob Machuca who grounded out to the first baseman to plate Abrego and record the first out after nine Mulerider runs and four SNU pitching changes in the inning. Chris Garcia was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again for a Ben Muldoon one-RBI single that represented the final run of the day for the Muleriders.
Southern Nazarene Notes
*Six pitchers combined efforts for Southern Nazarene. Casey Minchey tossed the opening 5.0 where he allowed eight runs on nine hits and one walk. Parker Presley took care of 2.0 innings and worked into the 11-run eighth inning. Presely accounted for six runs on six hits. Four additional pitchers worked in the eighth including Sebastian Figga who recorded all three outs and saw was the only athlete to not allow a single run.
*A solo home run from DJ Van Atten got the Crimson Storm on the board in the third with a solo blast to right field.
*Consecutive one-out hits from Tanner Bare and Tyler Broyles allowed for Southern Nazarene's second and third runs of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth.
*Jonathan Crist drew a walk before William Emerson found his way to first on a hit by pitch. After consecutive strikeouts, Atten and Carson Kinnaird hit back-to-back homers to left field to cut the Mulerider from 19 to 15 runs.
The Muleriders will continue their season on Tuesday, March 21 at home for a non-conference matchup versus Henderson State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
