CLEVELAND, Miss. — Southern Arkansas University built an early lead and held on for an 8-3 victory over Delta State University on Tuesday afternoon at Ferriss Field.
The Muleriders scored in the first inning on a solo home run and added two more runs in the third to take a 3-0 lead. They continued to increase the advantage, pushing it to 7-0 after a three-run seventh inning.
Delta State was held scoreless through the first eight innings. Southern Arkansas starter Eli Hutcherson pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out six to earn the win. The Statesmen showed life in the ninth, scoring three runs with two outs. Jacob Hill hit a three-run homer to left-center field, his first of the season, trimming the deficit to 8-3.
Hill led Delta State offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk. Austin Estes added two hits, and Walker Maranto doubled in the second inning. The team finished with eight hits and five walks.
On the mound, Brock Ware took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, over three innings. The bullpen combined for six innings of scoreless work, with Dawson Muenzenmay and Gavin McCoy each throwing shutout frames.
Delta State begins conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.
