ADA, Okla.  – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (21-16, 15-10 GAC) fell today to the East Central University Tigers (17-20, 13-12 GAC) by a final score of 11-5.
 
East Central broke the ice in the bottom of the first inning scoring one run to take an early 1-0 lead. A David Chandler and a Jacob Lang double in the top of the second inning plated two runs for the Muleriders as they retook the lead 2-1 after the top of the second.
 
Neither team scored in the third or fourth inning as both pitchers settled in shutting down both offenses. In the top of the fifth inning, SAU struck again for another run as Christian Gutierrez scored on a Jacob Lang RBI ground out. The Tigers cut into the Mulerider lead with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth. After five complete innings, SAU led 3-2.
 
The sixth inning was the difference in the game. SAU plated two runs as Christian Gutierrez singled into right field scoring both Michael Herndon and Tate Elliott as SAU jumped out to a 5-2 lead after the top of the sixth. ECU answered the Muleriders and scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 9-5 lead after six complete. The Tigers plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend their lead, 11-5. The Muleriders offense was unable to answer the Tigers late runs and ECU walked away winners of game one.
 
Top Performers
Christian Gutierrez: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 run
Jacob Lang: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Michael Herndon: 3-for-4, 2 runs scored
 
Up Next
The Muleriders will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, April 11th as they wrap up their three-game series with the Tigers. First pitch of game one of the doubleheaders is set for 12:00 p.m.