MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Baseball team is set to make their 2026 debut at home inside Walker Stadium this Sunday, February 1st as they play host to Pittsburg State University.
 
The Muleriders were originally scheduled to play in the annual Dugan Invitational in Hot Springs, Arkansas but wintery weather over the past week saw the team pivot to hosting Pitt State for a three-game series.
 
Head Coach Justin Pettigrew will begin his 10th season at the helm of the team as they had to do a lot of work this season assembling the team with no starting position players returning and one of three starting pitchers also returning.
 
Broadcast Information
Sunday and Monday's contests will be broadcast on the Mulerider Athletics Hudl page with Jeff Harrington and Coach Steve Browning calling all the action.
 
Series History vs Pitt State
SAU vs Pitt State || 1/30 (4:00 p.m.)
6th meeting, SAU 4-1
First meeting: 3/18/2003 – Pitt State wins 4-7
Last meeting: 2/12/22 – SAU wins 6-3
 
SAU Notables
>>> The last time the two teams squared off was in 2022 in the Henderson State Invitational which saw the Muleriders walk away with a 6-3 victory over the Gorillas. All time, the Muleriders lead the series over Pitt by 4-1.
 
>>> The Muleriders will see all new face this season across the diamond as no starters return from the 2025 team as well as only one starting pitcher.
 
>>> Carter Gaston is the lone returning starter for the Blue and Gold. Last season in his Junior campaign, Gaston accounted for 50.1 innings, 46 strikeouts and had a 2-3 record as a starter. Glynn Wilson
 
>>> Glynn Wilson saw action for the Muleriders last year playing in 21-games and collecting 11 hits in 39 plate appearances with five RBI.
 
Pitt State Notables
>>> The Gorillas come into the weekend series ranked preseason 16th in the NCBWA Preseason poll after finishing their 2025 campaign with a 42-12 overall record and going 27-9 in MIAA action. Pitt lost out of the NCAA DII regionals last year after falling to Central Missouri in consecutive games.
 
>>> Gorillas Head Coach Brock Buckingham will make his debut with Pitt State after being hired in May from Cowley College.
 
>>> Dagen Brewer is one of the returning starters for the Gorillas. In 2025, Brewer hit for a .380 average. He made 45 starts last season recording 71 hits in 187 plate appearances including 19 doubles, 24 home runs and 78 RBI. He slugged .866 at the plate for the season with a .444 on base percentage and 1.310 OPS.
 
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