ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (12-7, 7-3 GAC) took game one of their three game conference series against the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers (10-7, 5-5 GAC) by a final score of 9-3.
A scoreless first and second inning for both teams saw the Muleriders come to bat in the top of the third.
Ayden Slott came to the plate and singled with two outs to give SAU some life. Slott quickly swiped second on a steal and
Luke Noack walked to give SAU an opportunity to strike first. Strike the Muleriders did as
Preston Smith singled through the right side to score Slott and advance Noack to third as the Blue and Gold took a 1-0 lead.
Wyatt Fielding then walked and
Luke Noack scampered home on the second wild pitch of the inning as SAU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the third inning. The Muleriders tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning as
Christian Gutierrez doubled and reached third on an error.
Ayden Slott then came to the plate and quickly singled through the left side scoring Gutierrez, 3-0. The Tigers struck back in the bottom of the fourth inning for one run but after four complete innings, the Muleriders led 3-1.
The Muleriders struck again in the top of the fifth as
Preston Smith scored on a passed ball after reaching earlier on a walk to lead off the inning.
Wyatt Fielding then scored on a fielder's choice by the third baseman as
Luke Noack was safe at first base collecting the RBI, 5-1.
David Chandler then hit into a fielder's choice collecting the RBI as
Tate Elliott scored putting the Muleriders up 6-1 after the top of the fifth. Ouachita struck again for one in the bottom of the frame but after five complete innings, SAU led 6-2. SAU then scored one run in the top of the sixth inning as
Luke Noack scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a bunt single earlier in the inning, 7-2. The Muleriders scored their final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning as
Tate Elliott doubled to open the inning then quickly scored as
Jacob Lang singled into left center, 8-2. Lang then scored as
Luke Noack grounded into a fielder's choice but collected the RBI, 9-2. Ouachita scratched another run across in the bottom of the seventh but that was it as the Mulerider pitching staff blanked the Tigers in the eighth and ninth to take home a game one win, 9-3.
Top Performers
Luke Noack: 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 runs
Preston Smith: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Ayden Slott: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run
Eli Hutcherson: 6.2 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, 1 earned run allowed
Up Next
The Muleriders will wrap up their series with the Tigers tomorrow, Friday, March 6th as they play a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
