HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (26-22, 17-16 GAC) defeated the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm (28-20, 19-14 GAC) in the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament by a final score of 7-3. With the win, the Muleriders advance into the winner's bracket.
The bats started off hot for the Muleriders as
Preston Smith led off the tournament with a single through the right side. From there, a one out single from
Wyatt Fielding brought Smith around to score the first run of the game, 1-0.
Michael Herndon followed immediately with a double down the right field line as Fielding scored from first, 2-0.
Tate Elliott then crushed a double into deep right field scoring Herndon as SAU jumped out to a 3-0 lead. With two outs,
Jacob Lang delivered the big blow of the inning doubling down the left field line to plate two runs as SAU jumped out to a dominant 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
Stetson Bishop got the start on the mound in game one of the tournament for the Muleriders and struck out the side in the bottom of the first despite surrendering a hit. Bishop continued to dominate on the mound in the bottom of the second inning sitting the Savage Storm down in order. After two complete, SAU led 5-0. Southeastern scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning but after three innings, the Muleriders held a 5-1 lead.
Both teams settled down on the mound as neither team was able to push a run across in the fourth, fifth, or sixth inning. After six complete, the score remained 5-1 SAU. The Muleriders struck again in the top of the seventh inning as with one out,
Preston Smith hit his nation leading ninth triple of the year as SAU threatened.
David Chandler stepped to the plate and plated the first runs for SAU since the first inning delivering in a big way with a home run to right field as the Blue and Gold jumped out to a 7-1 lead. Southeastern plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull within five runs but the Muleriders shut down the comeback effort and took game one of the tournament by a final score of 7-3.
Top Performers
Stetson Bishop: 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts
Carter Gaston: 2 innings pitched, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts
Jacob Lang: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
David Chandler: 1-for-5, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, homerun
Up Next
The Muleriders will play the winner of UAM and East Central University. SAU's next game is scheduled for Friday, May 1st at 4:30 p.m.
