ALVA, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (15-9, 9-5) split their Saturday double header against the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers (15-11, 6-8) winning the first game and losing the second.
Game 1
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Muleriders broke the ice in the top of the second.
Trace Shoup led the inning off as he reached on an error by the short stop and then scored one batter later as
Carter Claerhout smashed a double into the left center field gap as Shoup motored around to score the games first run, 1-0.
Carter Claerhout then got the fifth inning going as he collected his second extra base hit of the day doubling down the left field line. Claerhout then scored two batters later thanks to a
Grant Roosma sacrifice fly and the Blue and Gold extended their lead, 2-0.
The Muleriders then struck again in the top of the eighth inning after
Jayden Hill doubled into left center field to score
Brandon Nicoll providing some insurance for the Muleriders, 3-0.
Jeremy Adorno then trotted out to the mound for his ninth inning of work and shut down the Rangers offense securing the win for the Muleriders by a final score of 3-0.
The big performance of the day came from the right arm of
Jeremy Adorno. The senior right hander from Kissimmee, Florida had his best performance of the season thus far throwing a nine-inning complete game shutout. Adorno surrendered only three hits in the outing while walking four batters but was able to fan eight Rangers in the win. The complete game marked the 13th of Adorno's career with the Muleriders.
Top Performers:
Jeremy Adorno: 9 innings pitched, eight strikeouts, no runs allowed, 13th career complete game, shutout
Carter Claerhout: 2-for-2, two walks, two doubles, one RBI, one run scored
Jayden Hill: 1-for-4, RBI
Game 2
The Muleriders picked up right where they left off in game two as
Jaden Woolbright led the game off with a triple to right field.
Brandon Nicoll was then plunked two batters later and
Jayden Hill walked to juice the bases in the top of the first inning with just one out. After a pop out from
Trace Shoup Carter Claerhout proceeded to get hit by a pitch to score
Jaden Woolbright and SAU took a 1-0 lead. The Rangers then scored their first run of the day in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 1-1 after one complete inning.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Muleriders struck again in the top of the third.
Lee Matsuzaki led the inning off with a single up the middle and was followed by a one out single by
Jayden Hill to put two runners on with one out. After a
Trace Shoup fly out
Carter Claerhout came to the plate and smashed his third double of the day down the left field line to score Matsuzaki and Hill giving the Muleriders a 3-1 lead. The Rangers then responded in the bottom of the third inning scoring four runs and retaking the lead, 5-3. Northwestern Oklahoma went on to tack on a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, 6-3 and three run in the bottom of the sixth inning, 9-3. The Rangers pitching staff was able to hold off the hot bats of SAU after the third inning and NWOSU took game two of the doubleheader by a final score of 9-3.
Top Performers:
Carter Claerhout: 1-for-2, three RBIs
Jayden Hill: 2-for-3, one run scored, one walk
Jaden Woolbright: triple, one run scored
Next Up
The Muleriders will be back in action tomorrow Sunday, March 16th for the rubber match in game three of the series against the Rangers. First pitch is schedule for 12:00 PM.
