MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Trace Shoup hammered a solo home run out to left centerfield in the bottom of the second inning to open scoring in Friday night's Great American Conference series opener, but it was all Arkansas Tech over the next six innings as the Wonder Boys relied on the arm of John Gray and two-run frames in the third, fifth and eighth innings to beat the Muleriders 7-2 inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.

The Muleriders (23-12, 15-7 GAC) recorded four hits, three in the ninth inning, and pushed across a pair of runs courtesy of Shoup, who delivered two knocks, in the second and an RBI-double from Jaden Woolbright in the ninth. Brandon Nicoll led off the final inning with a hard hit ball off the bare hand of Gray, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on Woolbright's contact which ended Gray's day at 8.1 innings. He fanned five and allowed just one hit in his first eight innings of action. Grant Shahan closed out the final two thirds of the ninth inning.

Jeremy Adorno suffered his fourth loss of the season after scattering six hits, allowing four runs and three walks. Austin Adair tossed the final five innings allowing seven hits and three runs.

SAU stranded six runners and was the unlucky recipient of several hard hit balls that found the leather of a Wonder Boy defender. ATU recorded 13 hits with Nick Jones and Keaton Ranallo delivering three each.

The two clubs decide the series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for 2 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.