Weevils Drop Three to Muleriders

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   MONTICELLO (April 1) - The University of Arkansas at Monticello's Boll Weevils (4-28, 2-7 GSC) were swept in a three-game series with the Southern Arkansas University's Muleriders, falling 7-1 in Saturday’s game before dropping Sunday’s doubleheader by scores of 15-5 and 4-2.

   In Saturday’s opener, Southern Arkansas jumped ahead early, plating two runs in the top of the first inning with a two-run double by Jeremy Triche to give the Muleriders a 2-0 lead. SAU pushed their lead to 5-0 after the top of the fourth before the Weevils were able to get on the board in the bottom of the inning as Gus Villegas (Jr., Cangues, Puerto Rico) hit a solo homer to bring UAM to within 5-1.

   However, UAM was not able to manage any more offense and the Muleriders tacked on runs in the sixth and seventh to seal the victory.

   Colter Zoch (Jr., La Grange, Texas) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned in seven innings, walking nine and fanning five. Josh Mace (Sr., Nelson, B.C.) and Nate Black (Sr., Rocky River, Ohio) both had two hits in the loss.

   Sunday’s opener saw more of the same from the Muleriders, as they jumped ahead to a 10-0 lead after the top of the third inning. UAM responded in the bottom of the frame, getting on the board as Matt Gardner (Fr., West Monroe, La.) scored on an error, and pulling to within 10-3 as Mace and Matt Whatley (Jr., Garland, Texas) added a pair of RBI singles.

   However, the Muleriders would once again jump ahead offensively, pulling ahead 15-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, when the Weevils pulled to within 15-5 on a Jon Michael Kidd (Fr., West Monroe, La.) two-run double.

   David Nix (Fr., Camden) suffered the loss after surrendering 15 runs on 19 hits in five innings. Kidd, Black and Craig Caldwell (Fr., West Monroe, La.) all had two hits in the loss.

   The finale proved to be a much closer ballgame as the Muleriders took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but the Boll Weevils tied the contest in the bottom of the third as Haley Hougen (Sr., Wylie, Texas) hit an RBI single, knotting the contest at 1-1.

   SAU pulled ahead 2-1 after a fourth inning bases-loaded walk to Skyler Stromsmoe, but the Weevils once again tied the game as Caldwell led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run.

   The Muleriders scored the game-winning blast as David Aubrey hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning, giving SAU a 4-2 lead. Brandon Wellborn shut the Weevils down over the last two innings to seal the SAU victory.

   Ross Ashley (Jr., El Reno, Okla.) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in seven innings. Caldwell and Whatley both picked up three hits in the loss, while Josh Franks (Sr., Lafayette, La.) had two hits.

 

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