CLINTON, Miss. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (9-6, 4-2) defeated the Mississippi College Choctaws (7-7, 3-3) by a final score of 12-8 in Clinton, Mississippi.
The Blue and Gold picked up right where they left off just one day ago as
Jaden Woolbright led off the game with a home run to right center field to open the scoring in the midweek affair. After back-to-back singles by
Brandon Nicoll and
Jayden Hill Jack Roubik grounded into a fielder's choice to score Nicoll and give SAU a 2-0 lead. The Choctaws then put up a three spot in the bottom of the first inning to retake the lead and after one complete Mississippi College led 3-2.
Lee Matsuzuki came to the plate in the top of the third inning with runners in scoring position and collected an RBI as he grounded out to second base plating
Glynn Wilson and tying the game at 3-3. The Muleriders would tack on two runs in the top of the fourth inning to retake the lead after a couple of singles and an error in the inning
Lee Matsuzaki came through again reaching on a fielder's choice scoring Ballard from third, 4-3. After a bunt single earlier in the inning,
Glynn Wilson came around to score on a wild pitch to give SAU a 5-3 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning,
Brandon Nicoll delivered a big blow as he blasted a two run homerun to left field extending the Muleriders lead, 7-3.
Stetson Bishop entered the game in the second inning after a rocky start for
Isaac Thornton and shut the Choctaws' offense down before Bishop would walk two batters and give way to
Hayden Oglesby. The Choctaws cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning plating one run but after six completed, SAU held a 7-4 lead.
The Muleriders put up another crooked number in the top of the seventh inning breaking the game wide open with a five run top of the inning.
Jack Roubik got the big inning started off with a single up the middle followed by a pinch hit one out double from
Carter Claerhout.
Peyton Ballard quickly singled through the left side scoring Roubik and
Glynn Wilson then collected his second bunt hit of the day scoring Claerhout from third.
Lee Matsuzaki then singled through the left side collecting his third RBI of the day as Ballard scored giving SAU a 10-4 lead. The fourth run of the inning came due to an error by the pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt, allowing
Jaden Woolbright to score pushing the lead to 11-4. The seventh inning scoring was then capped off as
Lee Matsuzaki swiped home on a double steal giving SAU a 12-4 lead.
Mississippi College then struck in the bottom of the seventh inning for three runs to make the game interesting but after seven complete innings, SAU held a 12-7 lead. Mississippi College then cut into the lead again in the bottom of the eighth inning with another run, 12-8.
Josh Phillips entered the game on the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning and shut down the Choctaws offense securing the win for the Muleriders.
Stetson Bishop earned his first win of the season on the mound throwing four complete innings only allowing one run. The Muleriders offense was on fire again today finishing the game with 17 hits for their fourth game in a row with 10 or more hits. The offense has also found its way recently scoring 10 or more runs in three out of the last four games.
Top Performers:
Jaden Woolbright: 3-for-5, three runs scored, one RBI, homerun
Lee Matsuzaki: three RBIs and one run scored
Brandon Nicoll: 2-for-4, two runs scored, two RBIs, one homerun
Jack Roubik: 3-for-5, one run scored, one RBI
Stetson Bishop: four innings pitched, one run allowed, earned the win.
Next Up:
The Muleriders will be on the road again this weekend as they travel to Russellville, Arkansas for a three-game series against Arkansas Tech University. The series is set to kick off Friday, February 28th at 6:00 PM. Games two and three of the series are scheduled for Saturday, March 1st with game one of the double header getting under way at 1:00 PM and game two set for 4:00 PM. Fans can follow all this weekends action with the links on the Mulerider Athletics Website.
