RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders split their Saturday double header with the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys winning game two of the series and dropping the rubber match in the night cap.
Game 1
The Muleriders jumped on top early in game one after a
Jack Roubik single into right field drove in
Jaden Woolbright to score the first run of the ballgame giving SAU a 1-0 lead. The Muleriders then plated another run in the top of the first as
Lee Matsuzaki stole home to give SAU a 2-0 lead. The Wonder Boys then responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs and Arkansas Tech took a 3-2 lead after one complete inning.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Wonder Boys struck again in the bottom of the third inning plating another run to take a 4-2 lead.
Trace Shoup then answered in the top of the fourth inning cutting into the Wonder Boys lead with a leadoff home run to pull the Muleriders back within one run, 4-3.
ATU then scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend their lead, 5-3. The Blue and Gold then took the lead in the top of the seventh inning with three straight singles to score three runs as
Carter Claerhout,
Trace Shoup, and
Grant Roosma all collected RBIs driving in three runs as SAU took a 6-5 lead.
Jayden Hill then collected an RBI of his own in the top of the eighth inning with a single through the right side to score
Tyler Abrego giving SAU a 7-5 lead.
Dylan Broadway then tacked on for the Muleriders as he singled to the pitcher to score
Brandon Nicoll, 8-5.
Carter Claerhout then doubled into right field to cap off the scoring for the Muleriders as
Jayden Hill score giving the Blue and Gold a 9-5 lead.
The SAU pitching staff came through in a big way shutting out the Wonder Boys from the sixth inning on and SAU would take game two of the series to set up a rubber match for game three.
Carter Gaston would earn his first win of the season on the mound and
Austin Adair would pick up a save in the win.
Top Performers:
Trace Shoup: 3-for-4, one run scored, two RBIs
Carter Claerhout: 2-for-4, one run scored, two RBIs
Jack Roubik: 2-for-3, one RBI
Jayden Hill: 1-for-3, two runs scored, one RBI
Carter Gaston: 2.1 innings pitched, no runs, three strikeouts, first win of season
Austin Adair: 2.1 innings pitched, no runs allowed, three strikeouts, save
Game 2
The Wonder Boys opened the scoring again in game two of the day plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. The Muleriders got on the board in the top of the third inning as
Grant Roosma grounded out to plate Claerhout and the Muleriders were on the board.
Lee Matsuzaki then gave SAU the lead as he doubled to left center collecting two RBIs as
Trace Shoup and
Peyton Ballard scored to give SAU a 3-2 lead.
Arkansas Tech then tied the game yet again in the bottom of the third inning plating one run and after three complete innings the game was tied 3-3. After a scoreless third inning for both teams, the Wonder Boys retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring two runs, 5-3.
Tech then capped off the scoring in the bottom of the sixth scoring one run putting the game on ice and winning the rubber match by a final score of 6-3 while also winning the series over the Muleriders.
Top Performers:
Lee Matsuzaki: 3-for-3, two RBIs
Trace Shoup: 1-for-3, one run
