Southern Arkansas falls to Lindenwood

EMPORIA, Kan. – An early offensive surge by No. 4 seed Lindenwood was too much for No. 5 seed Southern Arkansas to overcome, as the Muleriders fell to the Lions 14-7 in the opening round of the Central Region Tournament.

Lindenwood’s offense got off to a quick start with four hits in the bottom of the first inning, but Muleriders’ starter Kenneth Tabor was able to minimize damage in that frame to just one run.

Helping Tabor limit the Lions to that one run was a pair of pickoffs.

Tabor picked off one runner, while catcher Cory Gallegos picked off a runner at second.

In the second inning, however, the Lions collected four more hits, and this time were able to plate three runs to jump out to a 4-0 lead courtesy of the first of Rayce Singbush's two home runs in the game, and a two-run double by Ryan Sosnowski.

The Lions tacked on three more runs in the third to push their lead to 7-0.

However, the Muleriders got back into the game with a three-run fourth.

Trevor Rucker got the inning started with a single to right-center.

One batter later, Rucker scored as Jacob Richardson doubled down the left-field line.

Two batters after that, James Trevanion hit the first of his two home runs in the game to give SAU their second and third runs of the inning.

But Singbush answered with a two-run blast of his own for his second home run of the day to give the Lions a 9-3 lead.

The Lions then broke the game open with five runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 14-3.

Drew Quinones, Conor Behrens and Sam Baxter all had RBI singles in the inning for Lindenwood.

The Muleriders scored the game’s final four runs all via solo home run.

Cortland McPherson hit the first long ball of that streak in the sixth, while Trevanion hit his second homer in the eighth.

Michael Page and Blake Hall went back-to-back in the ninth to pull the score to its final of 14-7.

Tabor (11-2) surrendered nine hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss.

He didn't walk a batter or record any strikeouts.

Brendan Feldmann (9-3) scattered nine hits and five runs in eight innings to pick up the win.

He struck out nine and didn't walk a batter.

Wes Degener, Tyler Muehling and Kyle Teter each had three hits to pace a 19-hit attack for the Lions (36-18).

Sam Mrstik joined Trevanion with two hits for the Muleriders (3915), who had 11 hits.

Former El Dorado standout Josey Langston went 1-for-4 for SAU.

The Muleriders will take on Arkansas-Monticello in an elimination game today.

The Boll Weevils fell to Emporia State 10-8 in their opener earlier on Thursday.