BETHANY, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas Muleriders (8-6, 4-2) won the Monday rubber match against the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (5-9, 1-5) by a final score of 15-7 in a 10-inning affair.
 
The Muleriders struck first again today as Peyton Ballard doubled to center field scoring Jared Rhodes from first to take a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second inning. Brandon Nicoll then led off the top of the third inning with a home run to left field extending the Muleriders' lead. Jayden Hill and Jared Rhodes both collected singles in the inning and Peyton Ballard came up with a massive triple to left field driving in two runs as the Muleriders took a 4-0 lead.
 
Southern Nazarene struck back in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run home run to cut the SAU lead to two runs after five complete innings. The Muleriders then responded in the top of the sixth inning as Jaden Woolbright scored thanks to a Brandon Nicoll sacrifice fly to right field. Carter Claerhout then singled to left field driving in Lee Matsuzaki and was quickly followed by Jared Rhodes getting plunked two batters later to score Jayden Hill and SAU took a 7-2 lead. The Crimson Storm responded in the bottom of the sixth inning with four runs to cut the SAU lead to just one run, 7-6. After a scoreless top of the seventh inning for SAU, the Crimson Storm tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff homerun.
 
With the game knotted at 7-7, neither team was able to score in the eighth or ninth inning and the rubber match went into the tenth inning. The top of the tenth inning saw an offensive explosion for the Muleriders. With one out in the inning, Jack Roubik singled into left field. Grant Roosma followed with a double to left field scoring the pinch runner Burrows from first and giving SAU a lead. Peyton Ballard then came to the plate and singled to the first baseman as Dylan Broadway would score thanks to a throwing error by the first baseman. Jaden Woolbright then singled to right field and Jared Rhodes scored to give SAU a 10-7 lead. Lee Matsuzaki came to the plate with the bases loaded and crushed a no-doubt homerun over the right field wall to clear the bases and put SAU up 14-7. After a Brandon Nicoll single following Matsuzaki's homerun Clay Burrows then singled to right center to score Nicoll and the Muleriders capped their scoring at 15-7. The Crimson Storm were once again unable to mount a comeback and the Muleriders won the rubber match and clinched the series.
 
The Muleriders offense was on fire this weekend with 50 total hits through three games while scoring 42 runs this weekend while also hitting 11 home runs as a team.
 
Players of the Game
Jaden Woolbright:  5-for-7, two runs scored, one RBI
Lee Matsuzki: four RBIs, one homerun (grand slam), two runs scored
Brandon Nicoll: 3-for-5, two RBIs, one homerun
Grant Roosma: 3-for-6, one RBI
Peyton Ballard: 4-for-6, one run scored, four RBIs
Jared Rhodes: 2-for-4, three runs scored, one RBI
Austin Adair: five innings pitched, one earned run, five strikeouts
 
Next Up:
The Muleriders will be back in action Tuesday, February 25th as they travel to Clinton, Mississippi for a midweek game against Mississippi College. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM. You can keep up with all tomorrow's action on the Mulerider athletics website.