HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (3-1, 0-0) toppled the Washburn University Ichabods (1-3, 0-0) by a final score of 11-2 in the final game of the 2025 Dugan Invitational at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
 
Washburn was the first to crack the scoreboard in today's rematch pushing across one run in the top of the second inning after a scoreless first inning for both teams to take a 1-0 lead. The Muleriders offense would not let the Ichabod's lead last long as Josh Phillips came to the plate with one runner on and homered over the left field wall to put the Muleriders on top 2-1.
 
The Muleriders would tack onto their lead in the bottom of the third inning as Brandon Nicoll singled into left field to score Lee Matsuzaki from third base, 3-1. After another scoreless top of the fourth inning for Washburn, the Muleriders would continue their offensive explosion putting up another crooked number. Jaden Woolbright would lead off the inning with a single into right field followed quickly by a double from Josh Phillips into center field to score Woolbright from first base. With one out in the inning, Clay Burrows would single into center field to score Phillips from second base and SAU would take a 5-1 lead. With two outs in the inning, Lee Matsuzaki would come to the plate and single up the middle to score Burrows and take a 6-1 lead.
 
Washburn would scratch one run across in the top of the fifth inning, 6-2. The Blue and Gold would extend their lead yet again in the bottom of the fifth inning after a Grant Roosma leadoff walk and Jaden Woolbright single into center field with one out setting up the Muleriders for another big inning. Josh Phillips would then come to the plate with one out and two runners on and double into center field for his third hit of the game scoring Woolbright and Roosma, 8-2.
 
SAU would then cap off their scoring with a three-spot in the top of the sixth inning. Trace Shoup led off the inning with a homerun belted over the left field wall. Lee Matsuzaki would then come up to bat and crush his first homerun of his SAU career over the left center field wall for back-to-back bombs by the Muleriders. Jayden Hill would then single into right field and quickly steal second base. After a Grant Roosma ground out to advance Hill to third, Brandon Nicoll would walk to put runners on the corners for one of the team's hottest bats in Jaden Woolbright for a chance to extend the lead yet again. Woolbright would hit a sacrifice fly out to left center scoring Jaden Hill and SAU would take an 11-2 lead.
 
The SAU pitching staff would come up huge again today tossing seven scoreless innings en route to an 11-2 win for the Muleriders holding the potent Washburn offense to just five hits in the game. Austin Adair collected his first win of the season on the mound for the Muleriders.
 
Top Performers:
Josh Phillips: 3-for-4, five RBIs (led team), one homerun
Jaden Woolbright: 2-for-3, two runs scored, one RBI
Lee Matsuzaki: 2-for-3, two runs, two RBIs, one homerun (first at SAU)
Trace Shoup: one homerun
Eli Hutcherson: four innings pitched, four strikeouts
Austin Adair: two innings pitched, one hit allowed, one strikeout
 
Next Up:
The Muleriders will return to action next weekend in Arkadelphia, Arkansas at the Henderson State Invitational as they take on Augustana University (SD) on Friday, February 7th, Emporia State University on Saturday, February 8th, and the University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday, February 8^th and Sunday, February 9th.