MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders split the Saturday doubleheader with the Henderson State University Reddies after winning game one by a final score of 6-2 and falling in game two by a final score of 4-0.
 
Game 1
The Muleriders got the scoring started early in game one as Jaden Woolbright led the game off with a home run to left center field and SAU took an early 1-0 lead. The Blue and Gold extended their lead in the top of the third inning as Lee Matsuzaki singled through the right side scoring Peyton Ballard and giving the Muleriders a 2-0 lead. Jaden Woolbright then scored the second run of the inning for the Muleriders as Brandon Nicoll hit a sacrifice fly to center field giving SAU a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings.
 
The Reddies finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring one run but SAU still led, 3-1 after five complete innings. The Muleriders then tacked on to their lead in the top of the sixth inning as Jayden Hill crushed a two-run home run to center field following a Brandon Nicoll ground rule double putting SAU up 5-1. The top of the eighth inning saw the Muleriders add an insurance run as Carter Claerhout collected a one-out RBI single to right field scoring Jayden Hill who led off the inning with a double to left field. After eight complete innings, SAU led 6-1. Henderson State was able to push one more run across in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Muleriders' defense came through as they took game one of the series 6-2.
 
Jeremy Adorno had another great outing on the mound for the Blue and Gold. The senior right-hander threw seven complete innings while surrendering just one run, striking out nine Reddies batters.
 
Top Performers
Jeremy Adorno: Seven innings pitched, one run allowed, nine strikeouts
Jaden Woolbright: 3-for-4, two runs scored, home run, one RBI
Jayden Hill: 3-for-5, two runs scored, two RBIs, home run
Carter Claerhout: 2-for-4, one RBI
 
Game 2
After a scoreless first inning by both teams to open game two of the series, the Reddies broke the ice with the only runs of the game coming from one swing of the bat as Luke Farrar hit a grand slam to give HSU a 4-0 lead after two complete innings. The rest of the game saw zeros thrown up by both teams as the game settled into a pitching duel. Despite collecting five hits in the game, the Muleriders offense was unable to push any runs across as they fell in a tightly contested game two.
 
Lee Matsuzaki and Grant Roosma accounted for four of the five hits for the Muleriders as each had two hits apiece. Beau Leonards also had a solid outing on the mound for the Muleriders despite surrendering the lone homerun which proved to be the difference in the game. The junior southpaw threw five complete innings while striking out five batters and allowing four runs.
 
Top Performers
Lee Matsuzaki: 2-for-4 at the plate
Grant Roosma: 2-for-2 at the plate
Brandon Nicoll: 1-3 at the plate
Beau Leonards: 5.0 innings, five strikeouts
 
Next Up
The Muleriders will be back in action tomorrow Sunday, March 30th for the rubber match of the series against the Reddies. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.