SAU survives first elimination game

MAGNOLIA — A gem by Jacob Stroder and timely hitting by Southern Arkansas kept the Muleriders alive Friday in the first elimination game of the Magnolia Regional.

Stroder (11-2) allowed just one run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in eight innings Friday in a 5-1 victory over Pittsburg State (33-21). The loss eliminates the Gorillas from the NCAA Division II postseason.

Southern Arkansas (37-18) scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday, but lost, 8-6, to eighth-seeded Emporia State (3422). The Muleriders were selected to host a regional for the second time in program history after winning the Great American Conference Championship Baseball Tournament in Enid, Okla., and moving to No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Central region rankings.

The win advanced Southern Arkansas to the next round to face the loser of Friday night’s game between Central Missouri (38-15) and St. Cloud State (30-15). They will meet in an elimination game at 3 p.m. at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.

Third baseman Jacob Richardson kept the top half of the first inning going Friday with a two-out single up the middle. First baseman Cortland McPherson earned a walk before center fielder Dakota Wright’s single through the left side plate Richardson for an early 1-0 lead.

The Gorillas scored their only run in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run by their leadoff hitter, shortstop Colton Pogue.

Redshirt sophomore catcher Zach Muldoon, of Lake Hamilton, put the Muleriders up for the good with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score McPherson. Southern Arkansas is coached by Justin Pettigrew, who is also a graduate of Lake Hamilton.

Back-to-back doubles by right fielder Jake Tisevich and Richardson put the Muleriders up, 3-1 in the fifth inning. Richardson scored on a two-run home run by McPherson, who tied Richardson for the team-lead with 11 this season.

The home run chased Pittsburg starter Brendan Stanek (6-6). Cooper Gardner and Nick Brown to limit the Muleriders to four hits and no runs with six strikeouts in the final 4 2/3 innings.

Muldoon’s single in the eighth inning was his only hit of the game. He finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

McPherson finished 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs. Richardson scored two runs and had on RBI on 2-for-5 hitting.