MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (22-13, 15-7) defeated the Harding University Bisons (26-9, 16-6) by a final score of 5-3 in a top-ranked matchup in conference play.
 
The Muleriders struck first in the bottom of the first inning as Jayden Hill doubled to right field, scoring Brandon Nicoll as Hill collected his first RBI of the night. The Bisons did not stay quiet for long as they struck for two runs in the top of the second inning to retake the lead, 2-1. After a scoreless bottom of the second inning for SAU, the Bisons then struck again in the top of the third inning as they extended their lead by plating one run for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Muleriders then struck again courtesy of Jayden Hill as they retook the lead. After a Peyton Ballard lead-off walk followed by a Brandon Nicoll walk, Hill stepped to the plate and delivered in a big way homering to right field. Hill's home run off of Bisons pitcher Maddox Long was the first home run he has allowed all season as Hill collected three more RBIs and SAU took a 4-3 lead.
 
After a back-and-forth first three innings for both teams, both pitchers settled in as neither team would push a run across until the bottom of the seventh inning. Jayden Hill delivered again in the bottom of the seventh inning as he doubled up the middle to score Lee Matsuzaki who singled earlier in the inning and Hill collected his fifth RBI of the contest while providing the Blue and Gold with a much-needed insurance run.
 
Austin Adair entered the game in the top of the eighth inning for the Muleriders and slammed the door on the Bisons as he allowed only one hit while fanning three Harding hitters on his way to collect his third save of the season as the Muleriders took game one of the pivotal series.
 
The Mulerider pitching staff had a great night as they were able to hold the stout Bisons offense off the scoreboard after the third inning. Jeremy Adorno collected his fourth win of the season, throwing six and two thirds innings fanning six batters while allowing three runs. Caleb Sollars also saw action in the contest as he came in for a left-on-left matchup getting the Blue and Gold out of the inning on the first pitch. The performance was capped off by Austin Adair two inning one-hit save.
 
Top Performers
Jayden Hill: 3-for-4, one run scored, five RBI
Trace Shoup: 2-for-4
Brandon Nicoll: two runs scored, two walks
Lee Matsuzaki: 1-for-3, one run scored, one walk
Jeremy Adorno: 6.2 innings pitched, three runs allowed, six strikeouts
Austin Adair: two innings pitched, one hit, three strikeouts, save
Caleb Sollars: 0.1 innings pitched, no runs allowed, no hits allowed
 
Next Up
The Muleriders will wrap up their three-game conference series against the Bisons tomorrow April 6^th with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.