ENID, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (31-20, 22-11) fell tonight in an 11-inning shootout with the Henderson State University Reddies (30-20, 20-13) by a final score of 13-11.
 
The Reddies got on the board first in the top of the first inning working a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the game. The Muleriders did not let the lead last long however as they got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Carter Claerhout drew a walk to start the inning for the Blue and Gold. Claerhout then advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out and quickly scored as Josh Phillips doubled into the left center field gap to knot the game at one all. Jaden Woolbright then drew another walk and Clay Burrows singled up the middle to score Phillips as SAU took the lead, 2-1. Lee Matsuzaki then stepped to the plate and extended the SAU lead with a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Woolbright, 3-1.
 
The Blue and Gold then extended their lead yet again in the bottom of the third inning as Carter Claerhout crushed a home run to right center field, 4-1. After a scoreless top of the fourth for HSU, the Muleriders came to the plate and did more damage. Jaden Woolbright led off with a single and was quickly followed by a Clay Burrows home run to right field as the Muleriders jumped out to a 6-1 lead after four complete innings. Despite being down five runs, the Reddies did not go away quietly as they rallied back and retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning plating seven runs to take an 8-6 lead.
 
The top of the seventh inning then saw the Reddies extend their lead again as they plated another two runs to take a 10-6 lead after six and a half innings. The Muleriders then began their rally in the bottom of the seventh inning as Carter Claerhout collected a one out single and was quickly followed by a Grant Roosma RBI triple down the first base line scoring Claerhout as the Blue and Gold began to chip away, 10-7. Josh Phillips then grounded out to the first baseman scoring Roosma as the Muleriders cut the lead to two, 10-8.
 
With only six outs remaining for the Muleriders, they stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lee Matsuzaki led the inning off with a single to left field which was then followed by a Jayden Hill single to center field advancing Matsuzaki to third. Trace Shoup then collected an RBI sacrifice fly to center field as Matsuzaki scampered home to cut the lead to one run, 10-9. The bottom of the ninth inning saw drama as Josh Phillips stepped to the plate with one out and crushed a towering home run to right field tying the game at 10-10. The Reddies then escaped the inning after stranding a couple of baserunners for the Muleriders and the game headed into extra innings. A scoreless 10^th inning for both teams brought the Reddies to the plate in the top of the 11^th inning. HSU plated three runs in the top of the 11^th to take a 13-10 lead and did not relinquish it as the Muleriders fell in the contest.
 
Despite the tough loss for SAU, the Muleriders totaled 14 hits while plating 10 runs and crushed three home runs. The two teams also combined for 23 total runs and 32 total hits in the contest.
 
Top Performers
Clay Burrows: 3-for-5, three RBIs, one run scored, home run
Lee Masuzaki: 2-for-5, one run scored, one RBI
Josh Phillips: 2-for-5, two runs scored, three RBIs, home run
Grant Roosma: 3-for-6, one RBI, one run scored
Carter Claerhout: 2-for-4, one RBI, three runs scored, home run
Stetson Bishop: 3.1 innings pitched, seven strikeouts, two earned runs
 
Next Up
The Muleriders will be back in action May 3^rd at 1:00 PM as they take on the University of Arkansas-Monticello in a win or go home game.