MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (15-8, 10-4 GAC) split their Friday doubleheader with the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers (13-14, 6-8 GAC) winning game one in walk off fashion 12-11 in 10 innings followed by a game two loss 7-5 to set up a game three rubber match to decide the series.
 
Game 1
The Muleriders broke the ice early in game one as Preston Smith homered to right field as the Muleriders took an early 1-0 lead. The Rangers responded in the top of the second inning with four runs of their own to take a 4-1 lead after one and a half complete innings. A scoreless bottom of the second for SAU saw NWOSU plate another two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-1 lead. The Muleriders struck back in the bottom of the third as Preston Smith hit his second home run of the game this time to right field, 6-2. Michael Herndon reached base on a fielder's choice that cut down Wyatt Fielding as Tate Elliott stepped to the plate. The freshman cut into the NWOSU lead yet again for SAU as he crushed a two run home run to left field, 6-4.
 
The Muleriders continued to chip away in the bottom of the fourth inning as Luke Noack singled through the left side to score Slott who reached on a single earlier in the inning, 6-5. The Rangers tacked on a run in the top of the fifth inning as they tried to pull away from SAU, 7-5. The Muleriders tied the game at seven all in the bottom of the fifth inning as Christian Gutierrez hit a two-run home run to right field, 7-7. A two-run top of the sixth inning for the Rangers put them back out front, 9-7. In the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back singles from Michael Herndon and Tate Elliott with runners on plated two runs as they tied the game at 9-9. Christian Gutierrez stepped to the plate and put the Muleriders back on top reaching on a throwing error to score a run but Tate Elliott was cut down at the plate to end the sixth. After six complete innings, SAU led 10-9.
 
NWOSU knotted the game again in the top of the eighth, but the Muleriders were not done as they came to bat in the bottom of the frame. Wyatt Fielding put SAU back on top in the bottom of the eighth inning with a towering home run to left center, 11-10. The Rangers struck again in the top of the ninth stealing home to tie the game again at 11-11. A scoreless bottom of the ninth sent the game to extras as SAU looked to win game one of the series. A scoreless top of the 10th for NWOSU saw the Muleriders come to bat with a chance to walk it off. Luke Noack drew a one out walk and quickly stole second base to put a runner in scoring position. Preston Smith advanced Noack to third as he grounded out setting the stage for Wyatt Fielding. Fielding lived up to the moment and singled off the left field wall to easily score Noack as the Muleriders walked off game one, 12-11.
 
Top Performers
Wyatt Fielding: 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, home run
David Chandler: 3-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Preston Smith: 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 home runs
Tate Elliott: 2-for-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, home run
Christian Gutierrez: 1-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, home run
Caleb Sollars: 3 innings pitched, 1 run allowed, 0 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 1 hit
 
Game 2
A scoreless first frame for both teams to start game two saw the Rangers get on the board first in the top of the second inning scoring one run to take an early 1-0 lead. The Muleriders responded in the bottom of the third inning as Jacob Lang led off with a home run to dead center field knotting the game at 1-1. Luke Noack stepped to the plate with one out in the inning and delivered his first home run of the year to put SAU on top 2-1. The Muleriders kept the momentum rolling as Preston Smith singled and stole second while Wyatt Fielding drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Michael Herndon stepped to the plate and delivered a single through the left side the score Smith and extend the lead, 3-1. David Chandler stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly out to right field as Wyatt Fielding scored after scampering to third on a Tate Elliott single, 4-1.
 
The Rangers responded in the top of the fourth inning with three runs to knot the game at 4-4. A scoreless bottom of the fourth inning for the Muleriders and scoreless fifth for both teams saw the Rangers take the lead in the top of the sixth scoring two runs, 6-4. The Rangers scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh as they went up 7-4 with the Muleriders coming to the plate in the bottom of the frame looking for a repeat of game one. The Muleriders were only able to push one run across in the bottom of the seventh and the Rangers walked away winners of game two.
 
Top Performers
Luke Noack: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, home run
Jacob Lang: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, home run
Michael Herndon: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Tate Elliott: 2-for-4
 
Up Next
The Muleriders will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, March 13th at 12:00 p.m. for the rubber match to decide the series.