Alva Review-Courier -

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas Baseball salvaged its home opening series with No. 17 Lindenwood on Friday after picking up a 7-3 win in the finale inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.

The Muleriders (4-3) received four solid innings from starter Jacob Stroder (1-1) in game three and relievers Dillon Lawrence and Nick Starrworked the final three innings to give Southern Arkansas the 7-3 win and avoid the series sweep. Stroder scattered three hits, allowed three runs, and picked up four strikeouts in his second start of the season. Lawrence allowed just one hit and claimed two strikeouts in the fifth and sixth innings, while Starr needed just 11 pitches to pick up a pair of Ks and a fly out to make quick work of the Lions in the seventh.

SAU recorded nine hits in the series finale and plated seven runs. The Muleriders pushed across the game's first run for the third straight contest on an RBI single by Mark Fontenot in the bottom of the first inning. Sam Mrstik drew a second-inning walk to drive in SAU's second run and a solo home run from the bat of James Trevanion in the third inning made it 3-1 SAU through three.

Lindenwood tied the game at 3 runs apiece in the top half of the fourth, but Southern Arkansas answered with four runs in the home half of the frame to reclaim the lead.

Sparking the four-run fourth was a two-RBI double into right centerfield from Fontenot that scored Jacob Richardson and Cole Boyd. Fontenot would score on a wild pitch and the final run of the game was plated on an RBI single by Trevanion that scored Dakota Wright.

Fontenot, Richardson and Trevanion each registered two hits in the finale with Fontenot driving in a team-leading three RBI and Trevanion adding a pair of RBI. Austin Baker drew three walks in the contest.

In Friday's opener, Fontenot blasted an opposite field two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and the Muleriders would lead until Lindenwood tied the game in the fifth inning off of SAU starter Hunter Vasquez. Vasquez finished with four strikeouts and allowed two runs in 5.1 innings.

Southern Arkansas regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Boyd registered his first career hit and RBI that scored Wright to give SAU a 3-2 lead.

As was the case in the opener, Lindenwood managed some offense late in the game as they scored three runs in the seventh inning and plated a single run in the eighth to take the series with a game two score of 6-3. SAU's Tanner Vaught allowed just one run on one hit in the game's final 2.2 innings.

In the first game of the day, Fontenot recorded two of SAU's five hits and two of the team's three RBI. The Muleriders walked a total of eight times in Friday's opener with Richardson and Mrstik drawing two base on balls each.

Southern Arkansas returns to action at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field this coming weekend for its Great American Conference opening series with Southeastern Oklahoma State. First-pitch on Friday, February 16, is scheduled for 6 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. start.