Tweet #theGAC  ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Kenneth Tabor pitched a complete-game with nine strikeouts while the offense struck for 11 runs on nine hits as the top-seeded Southern Arkansas baseball team staved off elimination with an 11-3 win over No. 2-seed Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia.

The Muleriders pushed across the first run of the game as Jacob Richardson scored from third base on a wild pitch in the second inning. Prior to that, Richardson got to third on a wild pitch after he had initially reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Wonder Boys' third baseman to lead off the inning.

In the third, SAU added another run as Blake Hall reached base and scored on a four-base error on the centerfielder on a ball that was hit to right-centerfield and caromed off his glove.

The Muleriders then doubled their advantage to 4-0 thanks to a RBI double by James Trevanion and a fielder's choice RBI by Cory Gallegos.

Tech's first runs came in the fifth inning as Kyle Gibbs hit a two-run home run to make it a 4-2 game. The at-bat prior to that saw the Wonder Boys get their first hit off of SAU starter Kenneth Tabor.

In the bottom of that inning, SAU got a run back on a solo home run by Trevor Rucker; his 19th of the season. An inning later, SAU added three runs to take an 8-2 lead as Michael Page drew a bases-loaded walk, which was then followed by a two-run single through the left side by Hall.

The Wonder Boys got a solo home run in the seventh for their third and final run of the game. In the eighth, Mark Fontenot crushed a three-run home run over the scoreboard in right field to bring the game to its eventual final of 11-3.

Kenneth Tabor started for the game for the Muleriders and went the distance as he picked up his 11th win of the season. In his complete game effort, Tabor scattered five hits and allowed three earned runs. He also struck out nine batters, the second-most in a game this season for the junior left-hander.

The Muleriders had nine hits with two leaving the yard. Mark Fontenot, who was 2-for-5, had one of the long balls as he hit a three-run shot in the eighth. Trevor Rucker had the other homer with a solo blast in the fifth inning.

Rucker's home run was his 19th of the season tying him for the second-most in a single season at SAU and also tied him for the career record as it was his 41st career homer.

James Trevanion paced the club with a 3-for-4 game that included a double, a run scored, and a run batted in.