MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team lost two Gulf South Conference games on Saturday to No. 4 Southern Arkansas by final scores of 23-0 and 16-4.

In the 23-0 loss, SAU (26-3, 7-0 GSC-West) limited UAM (17-14, 3-4 GSC-West) to only four hits in the shutout loss, only the third time UAM has been kept scoreless this season.

Senior Blaine Ivey led the Boll Weevils offensively, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles. Freshman Kyle Henry and junior Michael Diffie were responsible for UAM’s other two hits. Henry went 1-for-3, while Diffie went 1-for-2.

The Muleriders racked up their 23 runs off 12 hits and five UAM errors. SAU tallied four homeruns in the contest, including two three-run round-trippers.

Senior Kevin Lienard (1-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing 12 runs (nine earned) off only six hits, but allowed seven walks and struck out only three in three and one third innings of work.

SAU’s Hayden Simpson (8-0) picked up the win after allowing all four UAM hits, while striking out 11 batters and only giving up one walk.

In the 16-4 loss, UAM scored all four of its runs off homeruns. Senior Brian Johnson hit a solo shot to right-center in the second, while senior teammate Drew Harper smashed a three-run round-tripper in the fifth.

Sophomore Wayne Hawkins led the Boll Weevils in hits after going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, all singles.

Sophomore Craig Pellegrin (2-3) took the loss after allowing four runs off four hits with no strikeouts and one walk in only two thirds of an inning.

SAU’s Matt Speake (5-0) earned the win after allowing all four of UAM’s runs off 10 hits with five strikeouts and two walks in five innings of work.

The two squads conclude the three-game GSC series on Sunday (3/28) with a single nine-inning contest at 2 p.m. in Magnolia.