SEARCY, Ark.  – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (21-15, 15-9 GAC) split their Friday doubleheader with the Harding University Bisons (19-16, 14-10 GAC) falling in game one 3-1 and winning the third game of the series 8-0.
 
Game 1 | HU wins 3-1
The Muleriders got the scoring going early in game one plating one run in the top of the first inning. Luke Noack singled to lead off the game and was followed two batters later by a Wyatt Fielding double into right center to score Noack, 1-0. The Bisons knotted the game at 1-1 plating a run in the bottom of the first.  A scoreless second inning for both teams saw Harding score another run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Neither team was able to plate a run for the next four innings, but Harding broke the ice in the bottom of the eighth adding an insurance run to take a 3-1 lead. The Muleriders were not able to push a run across in the top of the ninth despite some traffic on the bases as Harding took game one and the series.
 
Top Performers
Easton Hurley: 6.1 innings pitched, 2 runs allowed, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts
Wyatt Fielding: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
 
Game 2 | SAU wins 8-0
Game two began just like game one as the Muleriders broke the ice but this time with a three spot to get the scoring going. Tate Elliott collected two RBI on a double into right center field scoring Wyatt Fielding and Michael Herndon as SAU jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Tate Elliott plated the third run of the inning scoring from third on a wild pitch after advancing on a David Chandler ground out one batter earlier, 3-0. Nate June took the mound for the Muleriders in game two and shut down the Bisons in the bottom of the inning setting the tone for the rest of the game. Ayden Slott drove in two runs his own in the top of the fourth inning reaching on a throwing error by the short stop as David Chandler and Christian Gutierrez scored on the error. SAU jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning. Luke Noack collected two RBI of his own in the top of the eighth as SAU continued to pour on the runs as Jacob Lang and Ayden Slott scored, 7-0. Michael Herndon tacked on another run for the Muleriders singling up the middle to score Noack, 8-0. Nate June dominated on the mound in game two throwing seven complete inning allowing no runs and no earned runs.
 
Top Performers
Nate June: 7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned runs
Wyatt Fielding: 2-for-3, 1 run
Luke Noack: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run
Tate Elliott: 1-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI
 
Up Next
The Muleriders will be back in action next weekend as they travel to Ada, Oklahoma for a three-game series against the East Central University Tigers. The series is scheduled to start on Friday, April 10th at 2:00 p.m.