MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (24-20, 16-14 GAC) defeated the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers (21-24, 13-17 GAC) in walk-off fashion as Preston Smith sent a two-run home run to dead center field deep into the Magnolia night sky to close out non-conference play.
 
Parker Newsom got his first start of the year on the mound for the Muleriders and worked a quick first inning keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard despite surrendering a single. The Mulerider offense got to work early as Preston Smith led the game off with a single but was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double. David Chandler reached on an error following Smith and Michael Herndon was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Wyatt Fielding delivered the first run of the ball game with a single up the middle as Chandler scored giving SAU a 1-0 lead. A Tate Elliott sacrifice line out to right field saw the Muleriders take an early 2-0 advantage. Despite heavy pressure on the base paths, Ouachita worked out of the jam but after the first inning, SAU led 2-0.
 
Scoreless frames in the second and third inning for both teams saw the Tigers take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth as they hit a three-run home run. The Muleriders came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning with runners on first and second, Tate Elliott gave SAU the lead right back with a hard hit double into right center field plating both Chandler and Fielding as the Blue and Gold jumped out to a 4-3 lead. The Tigers again worked out of the inning, but the damage was done as SAU held a 4-3 lead entering the sixth. A scoreless sixth from both teams saw Ouachita tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh plating one run.
 
A scoreless eighth for both teams saw Jackson Downing come out to the mound for his second inning of work and shut down the Tiger offense working around a two out double to hold Ouachita scoreless and give the Blue and Gold a chance to end the game walk-off fashion. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Ayden Slott doubled to deep center field bringing Preston Smith to the plate. Smith did not waste any time jumping all over the first pitch he saw crushing it to dead center field and deep into the Magnolia night sky to end the game with a bang.
 
The walk-off win marks the third time in two seasons that the Muleriders have earned a walk-off victory over Ouachita inside Walker Stadium. SAU also improved their record when scoring in the first inning to 15-3 on the year with the win.
 
Top Performers
Preston Smith: 2-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBI
Wyatt Fielding: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Tate Elliott: 1-for-2, 3 RBI
Parker Newsom: 4.2 innings pitched (season high), 3 runs allowed, six strikeouts, first start of season
Jackson Downing: 2 innings pitched, 1 hit allowed, 0 runs allowed, win (first of season)
 
Up Next
The Muleriders will conclude regular season play in Monticello, Arkansas this weekend as they play a three-game conference series against the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils. The series is set to begin on Friday, April 24th at 6:00 p.m.