DURANT, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (28-15-20-8) emerged victorious in game one of their series against the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savage Storm (16-27, 12-16) thanks to an offensive explosion and a three-home run day from Brandon Nicoll. With today's win, the Muleriders are the first team in the GAC to reach 20 conference wins.
 
The Muleriders got the scoring started early in the top of the first inning as Brandon Nicoll blasted his first home run of the day over the right field wall to put the Muleriders on top 1-0. The Muleriders then struck again in the top of the second inning as Trace Shoup led off getting hit by a pitch. Grant Roosma then got hit by a pitch, and Carter Claerhout walked to load the bases with no outs. Jaden Woolbright then singled into center field to score Shoup as the Blue and Gold went up 2-0. Clay Burrows then singled through the right side as Roosma scored, 3-0. After Lee Matsuzaki reached on a fielder's choice and Mikey McGinnis went down swinging, Brandon Nicoll belted a home run over the left field wall for a grand slam and his second home run in as many innings, 7-0.
 
The top of the third inning saw Grant Roosma single into right field to lead off the inning, and was immediately followed by a Carter Claerhout single. Jaden Woolbright then reached on a fielder's choice, and the Muleriders decided to put on a double steal as Woolbright stole second and Grant Roosma stole home, 8-0. Woolbright then came around to score as Lee Matsuzaki singled into left field and advanced to second on an error, 9-0.
 
The top of the fourth inning saw Trace Shoup belt a home run to right field, followed by a Jayden Hill walk, 11-0. A couple of walks and a hit by pitch left the bases loaded with two outs for Mikey McGinnis. McGinnis stepped to the plate and reached on a throwing error to score Roosma as SAU took a 12-0 lead.
 
Jayden Hill then extended the Mulerider lead at the top of the fifth inning, leading off with a home run to right field, 13-0. Despite a double from Grant Roosma in the inning, the Muleriders were only able to score one run in the top of the fifth.
 
The top of the sixth saw Clay Burrows join the home run party as he crushed a ball over the right center field wall, 14-0. Lee Matsuzaki then walked, and with one out in the inning, Brandon Nicoll smashed his third home run over the left field wall to collect two more RBIs and leave himself a three-run home run shy of the home run cycle. Despite another hit in the inning from Trace Shoup, the Muleriders were unable to score, but after the top of the sixth inning, SAU led 16-0.
 
The top of the seventh saw the first inning where the offense did not score, but a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning for the Savage Storm sent everyone home early, thanks to the run rule 16-0 victory for the Muleriders.
 
Despite the offensive onslaught, Jeremy Adorno had a great day on the mound. Adorno threw his second complete game of the season, pitching seven complete innings, giving up five hits, two walks, seven strikeouts, and no runs. Adorno's shutout win was the sixth of his career and the 14^th complete game of his career.
 
Top Performers
Brandon Nicoll: 3-for-5, three home runs, seven RBIs, three runs scored, tied career RBI record (233)
Jayden Hill: 2-for-4, two runs scored, home run, one RBI
Trace Shoup: 2-for-4, two runs scored, one home run, two RBIs
Grant Roosma: 2-for-2, three runs scored
Clay Burrows: 2-for-4, two runs scored, two RBIs, one home run
Jeremy Adorno: Seven innings pitched, complete game, shut out, seven strikeouts, no runs allowed
 
Next Up
The Muleriders will be back in action tomorrow, April 17th for a double header against the Savage Storm. The first pitch of the double header is set for 12:00 PM.