CLINTON, Miss. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (10-5, 5-1 GAC) defeated the Mississippi College Choctaws (7-9, 3-3 GAC) in convincing fashion by a final score of 9-4 behind three home runs from three different players.
 
The Muleriders continued their first inning scoring jumping out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Preston Smith led the game off with a single into center field and promptly stole second base to set up the red-hot Wyatt Fielding. Fielding then quickly doubled into left to score Smith as SAU took a 1-0 lead. Michael Herndon stepped to the plate and continued his hot streak with a single into center to score Fielding as the Muleriders tacked on, 2-0. Two quick outs followed by Herndon stealing second saw Christian Gutierrez get hit by a pitch. David Chandler then stepped to the plate for his first action in a couple of games and doubled into right center as Herndon and Gutierrez scored adding to the SAU lead, 4-0. The Choctaws got on the board in the bottom of the inning after a home run cut into the SAU lead but after one inning the Muleriders led, 4-1.


Scoreless second and third inning for both teams saw the Muleriders extend in the top of the fourth as Preston Smith led off with another single and was promptly followed by a Wyatt Fielding home run to put SAU up 6-1. The Muleriders then tacked on yet again in the top of the sixth inning as Tate Elliott homered to begin the frame and was followed immediately by Preston Smith collecting his third hit of the game via back-to-back home runs with Elliott as SAU jumped out to an 8-1 lead.
 
The Choctaws began to chip away in the bottom of the sixth and seventh inning plating one run in each, but after seven complete innings, SAU led 8-3. SAU responded to the MC runs in the top of the eighth inning with back-to-back one out doubles first from Tate Elliott followed by Preston Smith to score Elliott as SAU extended their lead to 9-3. A run for the Choctaws in the bottom of the eighth rounded out the scoring for both teams as the Muleriders collected another midweek victory, 9-4.
 
Top Performers
Wyatt Fielding: 4-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, home run
Preston Smith: 4-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI, home run
Tate Elliott: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, home run
David Chandler: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
Eli Berry: 5 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, first career collegiate win
 
Up Next
The Muleriders will return to action this weekend inside Walker Stadium as they prepare for a weekend conference series with the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys. Game one of the three game series is set for Friday, February 27th at 6:00 p.m.