SAU downs Arkansas Tech
Southern Arkansas University starting pitcher Jeremy Adorno cruised to his 14th win of the season in the Muleriders 17-2 victory over Arkansas Tech in the first round of the Great American Conference baseball championships at Majestic Park Saturday.
Adorno came into the game with a record of 13-0, and the freshman pitcher looked extremely comfortable on the turf mound at Majestic Park’s Babe Ruth Field. Adorono went 8 innings, allowing 1 hit, 2 runs and 3 walks while fanning 8 in a strong performance from the undefeated Florida native.
The stands at Majestic Park were filled to the brim for the contest between the two Arkansas teams, the weather much warmer than when GAC teams played at the new complex in early February during the Dugan Invitational. The stands were so full that some supporters stood around the concourse or brought their own chairs to sit in down the third and first baselines.
SAU started the game quickly when Brandon Nicoll cranked a solo shot over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the first inning to give the No. 1 seed in the tournament a 1-0 lead.
Chris Lyles then added to the advantage when he hit a hard grounder to a diving Ty Van Meter at third base. Lyles reached first on the single and drove in Jakob Machuca.
Both defenses cruised through an easy second inning before the Muleriders used smart baserunning to add another run in the bottom of the third. Ty Manning had just reached first on a fielder’s choice, and Brett Mcgee advanced to third on the same play.
While Lyles was at the plate, Manning took off for second. Arkansas Tech catcher Carter Thessing fired the ball to second base, and Mcgee took off for home. The throw back to Thessing looked to be in time, but Mcgee was called safe at home after Thessing tried to apply the tag.
The Wonder Boys answered in the top of the first when Trace Maddux launched a home run to right field, but Adorono answered by retiring the next three batters.
The Muleriders started to put some distance between themselves and the Wonder Boys with a three-run fifth and a one-run sixth.
Leading 7-2 heading into the seventh, SAU blew the game open in the bottom of the frame. Conner Allen got things started with an RBI single to center field, and Mcgee then put the game out of reach with one big swing.
Allen, Chris Sutton and Riley Orr were all on base for the Muleriders when Mcgree hit a no-doubter over the right field wall for a grand slam and a 12-2 lead.
SAU added five more runs in the eighth before Reed Osborn came in to finish the game on the mound for the Muleriders in the top of the ninth.
Osborn allowed Thessing to single, but then forced two groundouts. After hitting Stormy Taylor with a pitch, Osborn made Van Meter fly out to end the game.
Mcgee had a strong game at the plate for the Muleriders with a 3-for-4 day accounting for 4 RBIS, 3 runs and 2 walks. Lyles also managed a 3-for-4 outing with 3 RBIS, 2 runs and a walk.
Arkansas Tech tallied just two hits all day from Maddux and Thessing. Maddux and Josh Detweiler picked up the Wonder Boys’ 2 RBIS on the day.
Patrick Miner earned the loss for the Wonder Boys, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing 9 hits, 7 runs and 3 walks while striking out 6.
SAU takes on Ouachita Baptist today at 9:30 a.m., and Arkansas Tech plays Southeastern Oklahoma State at 3:50 p.m.