Alva Review-Courier -

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Two base hits, a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch coupled with an Arkansas Tech fielding error led to four runs in the top of the eighth inning and broke a 5-5 tie for No. 25 Southern Arkansas, which received solid relief effort from the backend of the bullpen to top the Wonder Boys 9-6 in non-conference action on Tuesday night from Tech Field in Russellville.

The Muleriders (23-9) plated nine runs on eight hits and overcame 13 stranded baserunners to pick up their third out-of-conference win over an Arkansas league foe this spring. SAU has won four straight games and eight out of their past ten.

Southern Arkansas used the services of its top three bullpen arms to pick up the win in the midweek contest as Tanner Vaught and Nick Starr each threw two innings in relief of starter Brian Archibald, while Eric White worked the ninth inning. The four arms combined to strikeout 16 Tech batters and each allowed just a single walk. Starr picked up the win; his first as a Mulerider.

Offensively, Sam Mrstik went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI and a run scored, while also reaching base on a walk and hit-by-pitch. Austin Baker collected two hits and walked once, while Jacob Richardson also recorded a pair of base hits, including an RBI single that broke the 5-5 tie in the eighth inning.

Cortland McPherson produced the lone extra base hit for SAU in the win as his fourth inning home run plated three and extinguished a 2-2 tie.

Southern Arkansas returns to action this weekend on the road in Arkadelphia for three-game Great American Conference series with Henderson State. First-pitch times and live coverage links are available at http://www.MuleriderAthletics.com.