HOT SPRINGS, Ar. — Three pitchers combined on a 4-hitter Monday, and Rogers State (Claremore, Ok.) dealt Southern Arkansas its first loss in the 2023 Dugan Invitational.
The Hillcats (2-1) rallied from an early 2-0 deficit with two runs in the third, and single runs in the sixth and eighth innings.
Andres De Leon started on the mound for Rogers. He yielded a solo home run to the Muleriders’ Brandon Nicoll in the first inning. Tyler Abrego, who replaced injured shortstop Riley Orr, scored the second run in the third when Nicoll reached on a fielder’s choice.
The setback was the first for the second-ranked Muleriders (3-1). SAU bats had little fire-power all four games and left Hot Springs with a .185 team batting average.
Rogers got run-scoring hits from Jesse Holguin, Jhonmy Martinez and Mitchell Smith. De Leon allowed all four of SAU’s hits and struck out eight, while walking non. Relievers Dean Grisham and Octavio Sanchez pitched two innings each, walking none and striking out four. Grisham was the winning pitcher. Chance Bolter suffered the loss in relief.
Rogers finishes 2-1 in Dugan Invitational
The Hillcats finished 2-1 in the event, their only loss to Ouachita Baptist.
Earlier Monday, the Muleriders scored their third straight one-run victory, beating Washburn, 3-2. Hayden Hable was the winning pitcher in relief of southpaw Wyatt Marr. Isaiah Haynes was credited with a save.
Texarkana’s Chris Lyles was SAU’s leader at the plate with a double and two singles. The Muleriders stole eight bases, two by Lyles in the fourth inning. Lyles doubled to deep left-center, stole third and scored on a double-steal after Conner Allen walked.
The Muleriders scored in the first when Texarkana’s Chris Sutton reached second after his line drive to center was dropped. He advance to third when Brett McGee grounded out, and scored on Jakob Machuca’s single to right.
SAU scored the decisive run of the game in the eighth. Zach Rennard walked to start the inning. Lyles followed with his third hit to left. Pinch-runner Peyton Ballard raced to third on a wild pitch, scoring on Abrego’s sacrifice fly to right.
The Icabods lost three of four in the Invitational.
Wyatt Marr and Riley Orr were the Muleriders representatives on the All-Tournament Team.