Alva Review-Courier -

MELISSA, Texas – The Muleriders took the final game of the three-game series over East Central, 10-1, behind an impressive offensive performance led by the long ball that saw seven of SAU's runs score on a grand slam off the bat of Dakota Wright and a 3-run bomb from Jacob Richardson.

Jacob Stroder received the start on the mound for the Muleriders and matched his season-high six strikeouts while surrendering just one run on five hits through seven innings of work.

The Muleriders did not waste any time getting on the board in the first inning as they rallied with two outs in the frame to put up a pair of runs and take the early lead over ECU, 2-0.

In that sequence, Mark Fontenot and Richardson each drew 2-out back-to-back walks, which then brought Sam Mrstik to the plate as he doubled to center field to plate Fontenot. Richardson would later score the second run in the frame on a passed ball to give the Muleriders the aforementioned 2-0 advantage.

The Mulerider offense rallied with two outs again in the third inning, and this time tacked on five runs, after a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for SAU. An error by the catcher allowed the first run of that frame to score, and a pitching change for the Tigers resulted after James Trevanion was issued the fourth free base for the Muleriders in the frame that load the bases.

Dakota Wright would be the first batter to face the Tigers' relief pitcher in the inning as he stroked a 0-1 delivery over the left field wall to tally the Muleriders' first grand slam on the season and extend the lead out to 7-0.

In the following inning, back-to-back doubles by Jake Tisevich and Fontenot placed a pair of Muleriders in scoring position, and Richardson, in his at-bat, left the yard over the left field wall to give the Muleriders some insurance runs, 10-0.

The Tigers would not go quietly as they lead-off the bottom of the seventh with a solo homerun to make it a 10-1 final decision.