SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (4-5, 1-1 GAC) split their Sunday double header with the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison (3-4, 1-1 GAC) to set up a Monday rubber match.
Game 1
Carter Gaston and Kody Bialas took the mound for their teams and immediately went to work as a pitchers dual began to take place. Both pitchers threw five complete scoreless innings racking up strikeouts on both sides until the Muleriders broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. After a leadoff double for
Wyatt Fielding,
Michael Herndon singled into center field to put Fielding on third with no outs.
Christian Gutierrez stepped to the plate with two outs and delivered a single up the middle to score Fielding, as Herndon advanced to second on a wild pitch earlier in the inning. SAU took a 2-0 lead after the top of the sixth. The Bison came to the plate in the bottom of the frame and notched their first runs, taking the lead with three runs in the inning, 3-2. The SAU offense was unable to push anymore runs across in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, while the Bison tacked on and extended their lead, eventually taking home the game one win by a final score of 7-2.
Top Performers
Michael Herndon: 2-for-3, 1 run
Christian Gutierrez: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Carter Gaston: 5.1 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts
Game 2
Game two of the series began hot as,
Preston Smith led off the game with a triple to left center field and then scoring on a wild pitch, as SAU jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Once again, the Bison came to the plate and responded by taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame. The Muleriders then responded retaking the lead in the top of the second inning, as
Jacob Lang scored on a throwing error by the shortstop with
Tate Elliott stealing second base. Elliott then scored on a passed ball, as SAU took a 3-2 lead after the top of the second inning. A scoreless bottom of the second inning for the Bison followed by a scoreless third and fourth inning for both teams, led to the Muleriders tacking on another run in the top of the fifth as
Wyatt Fielding led the inning off with a home run to right field, 4-2. The Bison then responded in the bottom of the frame with one run to pull within one, 4-3. The Muleriders offense then extended their lead in the top of the sixth inning. A
Jordan Owns leadoff single and advancing on a wild pitch set the stage for
Jacob Lang, as he doubled into left center to score Owns, 5-3. Owns then provided an insurance run in the top of the seventh by reaching on a fielder's choice to score
Wyatt Fielding, as SAU took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. A scoreless bottom frame for the Bison led to the Muleriders taking home the win to set up a Monday rubber match to decide the series.
Nate June got the win on the mound moving to 2-0 on the year while
Wes Cunningham recorded his second save of the season.
Top Performers
Wyatt Fielding: 1-for-2, 2 runs, 1 RBI, home run
Jordan Owns: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Jacob Lang: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Nate June: 4.2 innings pitched, six strikeouts, win
Wes Cunningham: 2.1 innings pitched, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs, save
Up Next
The Muleriders will resume their series against the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison tomorrow, Monday, February 16th for the rubber match to decide the series. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.
