Muleriders looking to extend winning streak
MAGNOLIA - Southern Arkansas hits the road this weekend for Great American Conference play, as the Muleriders head to Arkadelphia for a three-game series against Ouachita Baptist.
The series opens today at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.
The Muleriders (245) have been on a torrid stretch during March, as they enter this weekend's series with the Tigers having won 16 straight and 17 of their last 18 games.
Statistically, the Muleriders enter play hitting .317 as a team and have a 3.86 team ERA. Through 29 games, the Muleriders have scored 223 runs offensively while the pitching staff lays claim to three shutouts.
Individually, the Muleriders have five players hitting over .350 with Cortland McPherson leading the club at .408. Trevor Rucker is next at .405, followed by Jacob Richardson at .365 and Mark Fontenot at .359. Redshirt freshman Blake Hall is hitting just under .350 at .347 from the leadoff spot. Rucker leads the team in home runs with nine and five Muleriders have collected 20 or more RBIs as well.
On the mound, Dalton Algiene (7-1) leads the team in wins while also sporting the lowest ERA among starters at 2.05. Additionally, Algiene has contributed to all three of SAU's shutouts while also leading the team in strikeouts with 59 in 48 1/3 innings pitched.
For Ouachita Baptist (1021), the Rangers are hitting .287 as a team with 64 doubles, nine triples, 16 home runs, and 167 runs scored. On the mound, the Rangers have a 6.37 team ERA and have struck out 168 opposing batters while issuing 150 walks.
The leading hitter is Kyle Alexander at .375. Justin Weigle and Preston Speers are tied for leading the team in home runs with four.
Adam Bahloul has the lowest ERA among starters at 4.74 and his 33 strikeouts lead the team as well.
The Tigers enter the series coming off of a non-conference loss to Texas A&M-Texarkana on Tuesday.
The series also pits three former El Dorado standouts against one another.
OBU's Ty Owens is hitting .309 with three homers and 15 RBIs, while SAU's Josey Langston is hitting .275 with no homers and 15 RBIs, and Eli Lester has gone 0-for-2 at the plate in two games for the Muleriders.