HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (26-24, 17-16 GAC) fell to the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savage Storm (30-20, 19-14 GAC) by a final of 21-19 in a marathon high scoring affair.
The game set two new GAC tournament records including, single game combined runs scored (40) and single game combined team home runs (11).
SAU started the game off hot as Michael Hendon doubled to left center scoring
Preston Smith as the Blue and Gold jumped out 1-0. A
Tate Elliott single scored Hendon as SAU took a 2-0 lead. SAU took the game to the bottom of the first with a 2-0 lead. The Savage Storm answered quickly plating one run via a home run but after one complete, SAU led 2-1.
Neither team was able to plate a run in the second inning as SAU headed to the third with a chance to extend. Despite a chance to extend their lead in the top of the third inning, SAU came up short and headed to the bottom of the third still holding a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, the Savage Storm offense exploded for six runs to take a 7-2 lead. The Muleriders did not stay down for long though as following a
Jacob Lang leadoff single,
Ayden Slott belted his first home run of the season to deep left field, 7-4. The scoring frenzy continued as
Preston Smith scored on a wild pitch and
Tate Elliott homered to deep right field putting SAU back on top 8-7. The home run parade didn't stop there as
Jordan Owns hit a home run deep to left field extending the lead out to 9-7. An
Ayden Slott double plated another run for SAU, 10-7.
Ayden Slott worked his way around the base paths and scored via a balk to score the ninth run of the inning for SAU as they took an 11-7 lead.
The Savage Storm answered back with one run in the bottom of the fourth but that was it as the teams headed to the top of the fifth with SAU leading 11-8. No runs in the top of the fifth for the Muleriders saw the Savage Storm come back plating six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the lead, 14-11.
SAU answered the Savage Storm in the top of the sixth inning as
Jordan Owns scored via a sacrifice fly cutting the lead to just two runs, 14-12.
Wyatt Fielding stepped to the plate and homered to deep right field giving SAU the lead right back 15-14 as the two teams continued to trade blows. Southeastern didn't let the lead last long though as they plated seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 21-15 lead. SAU answered right back as
Tate Elliott scored via a sacrifice fly from
Jacob Lang, 21-16. An RBI groundout from
Preston Smith to scored
Christian Gutierrez saw the Muleriders plate another one as they chipped away at the Savage Storm lead, 21-17. A single from
David Chandler plated the third run of the inning for SAU as
Jordan Owns scampered home. After the top of the seventh, Southeastern led 21-18.
In the top of the eighth inning,
Jordan Owns put SAU on the scoreboard yet again as the worked a bases loaded RBI walk as SAU continued to chip away, 21-19. Despite having the bases loaded, the Muleriders were not able to convert as the game headed to the bottom of the eighth with SAU trailing 21-19.
Jackson Downing kept battling for SAU on the mound holding Southeastern scoreless for the second consecutive inning. The game headed to the top of the ninth with SAU looking to mount the complete comeback. In the top of the ninth, SAU could not plate anymore runs as the Savage Storm took the game ending the Muleriders run in Hot Springs.
Despite the heroic performance from the SAU offense the Muleriders fell just short in the outing. The 19 runs scored is the most by the Muleriders this season.
Top Performers
Tate Elliott: 3-for-4, 2 runs scored, 4 RBI, home run
Christian Gutierrez: 2-for-4, 1 run scored
Jordan Owns: 2-for-5, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI, home run
Wyatt Fielding: 3 RBI, home run
Ayden Slott: 2-for-6, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI, home run
Jackson Downing: 2.2 innings pitched, 0 runs, 0 earned runs.
