ADA, Okla. – Southern Arkansas' four runs through four innings highlighted a rather sluggish start for the Muleriders in Friday's Great American Conference opener at East Central, but the middle innings became the final innings as SAU erupted for 15 runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to top the Tigers 19-2 in seven innings from Ken Turner Field.

The Muleriders (9-3, 4-0 GAC) recorded 19 hits of which 14 were singles. Six players recorded multi-hit games led by Trace Shoup's four and three-hit afternoons by Chris Lyles and Mikey McGinnis. Chris Sutton, who led SAU with two doubles, was one of three players with four-RBI days joining Grant Roosma and Jaden Woolbright.

On the mound, Tim Ruffino went 7.0 full innings scattering four hits, three walks and two runs. He struck out six and faced just one over the minimum in the final three innings of work as he quieted ECU offensively after the Tigers scored single runs in the first and second innings.

SAU answered with two runs on a two-out single from Woolbright in the second and the Tigers tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the second. In the fourth, the Muleriders pushed across two runs in a three-hit inning and then used a six-run fifth and seven-run sixth to put away the Tigers.

The victory is the 60^th GAC road win for the Muleriders under Pettigrew and it increases SAU's winning streak over the Tigers to 16 games.

Southern Arkansas and East Central decide the series on Saturday with a doubleheader set for a noon start. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.