BETHANY, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (7-6, 3-2) split their doubleheader today against the Southern Nazarene University Crimson Storm (5-8, 1-4) winning game one and dropping game two.
Game 1
The Muleriders broke the ice in game one as
Jayden Hill homered to left field to get the scoring started and give SAU a 1-0 lead. The Muleriders tacked on in the top of the third inning plating two runs as
Jayden Hill recorded an RBI after a walk to score
Glynn Wilson and
Mikey McGinnis would fly out to left field to score
Jaden Woolbright and SAU took a 3-0 lead.
The Crimson Storm responded in the bottom of the fourth inning plating two runs and making it a one-run affair, 3-2.
Jayden Hill then added to the Muleriders' lead in the top of the fifth inning as
Jayden Hill hit his second home run of the contest giving SAU a 5-2 lead. SNU did not let the game slip away as they plated two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning but after five complete innings, SAU still led 5-4.
The top of the sixth inning saw SAU strike again this time thanks to the bat of
Grant Roosma as he homered to center field and the Muleriders took a 6-4 advantage after the top of the sixth inning. The Crimson Storm struck right back in the bottom of the sixth inning plating another two runs to tie the game at 6-6 after six complete innings.
The Muleriders offense then responded again in the top of the seventh inning scoring four runs to take a commanding lead.
Lee Matsuzaki scored the first run in the inning off of a passed ball which was followed by a sacrifice fly by
Jack Roubik to score
Jayden Hill from third.
Grant Roosma then provided the big spark for the inning with his second home run of the contest propelling SAU to a 10-6 lead.
The Muleriders then extended their lead in the top of the eighth inning as
Jayden Hill worked a bases-loaded walk to score
Glynn Wilson, 11-6.
Jack Roubik then came up with the big hit in the inning rifling a single up the middle to score Jayden Woolbright and
Lee Matsuzaki and give the Muleriders a, 13-6 lead.
SAU then put the game completely out of hand in the top of the ninth inning, scoring eight runs to break the game wide open.
Peyton Ballard led off the top of the ninth inning with a home run to left center field.
Glynn Wilson then flew out to right field and
Jaden Woolbright fouled out to the first baseman.
Lee Matsuzaki came to the plate with two outs and doubled to right center field firing up the offense for a huge inning.
Jayden Hill collected an RBI as he singled through the right side to score Matsuzaki and was then followed three batters later as
Grant Roosma collected another RBI getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score
Jayden Hill. After several defensive changes for the Crimson Storm,
Clay Burrows pinch hit for
Peyton Ballard and took full advantage of his at-bat by crushing a grand slam collecting four RBIs, and putting SAU on top 21-6. The Crimson Storm were unable to mount a massive comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Muleriders took game one by a final score of 21-6.
The Mulerider offense was on fire in the first game collecting 17 hits and scoring 21 runs after mashing five home runs to total 12 extra base hits.
Players of the Game:
Jayden Hill: 3-for-3, four runs scored, six RBIs, two home runs, two walks, one hit by pitch
Grant Roosma: 3-for-5, four RBIs, three runs scored, two home runs, one hit by pitch
Peyton Ballard: one run scored, one RBI, one home run
Clay Burrows: four RBIs, one run scored, grand slam
Jack Roubik: 1-for-1, three RBIs
Austin Adair: three innings pitched and the win (3-0)
Game 2
The Crimson Storm got the scoring started in game two plating one run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
Neither team was able to get anything going at the plate in the second or third inning, but the Muleriders' offense found their groove in the top of the fourth.
Jayden Hill led the inning by hitting his third home run of the day over the right-field wall to open the scoring for the Muleriders.
Grant Roosma then followed with his third home run of the day with runners on first and second to open up a 4-1 lead for the Muleriders. The Crimson Storm responded in the bottom of the fourth with two home runs of their own to cut the SAU lead to one, 4-3.
SNU took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs and taking a 6-4 lead after five complete innings. Neither team would score in the sixth inning and the Muleriders headed to the top of the seventh inning trailing by two runs.
SAU came to the plate in the top of the seventh inning needing two runs to stay alive in the contest. With one out in the inning,
Brandon Nicoll doubled to left center field bringing the scorching hot bat of
Jayden Hill to the plate with a chance to tie the game. Hill took advantage of his opportunity crushing a no-doubter home run for his fourth of the day and second of the game over the right field wall to knot the game at 6-6. The Muleriders were unable to plate any more runs in the inning and went to the bottom of the seventh tied at 6-6. The Crimson Storm were not done though working the bases loaded and eventually winning the game in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to a bases-loaded hit by pitch. SAU fell in game two by a final score of 7-6.
Despite the loss, the Muleriders outhit the Crimson Storm 10-8 in the game and saw three more home runs with two from
Jayden Hill and one from
Grant Roosma.
Top Performers:
Jayden Hill: 3-for-4, two runs scored, two home runs, three RBIs
Grant Roosma: one home run, three RBIs, one run scored
Next Up:
The Muleriders will return to action tomorrow Monday, February 23rd at 1:00 PM for game three of the series against the Crimson Storm.
