Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Thanks, in large part, to Kelci Garza's two homeruns and six RBIs across Saturday's doubleheader, the Southern Arkansas softball team bounced back from yesterday's doubleheader sweep and returned the favor as the Lady Muleriders took both games against Henderson State by scores of 3-0 and 10-5.
 
The opening game of the doubleheader was controlled from outset by the Lady Muleriders (16-14, 8-6 GAC) as they grabbed an early 1-0 lead for starter Hanna Gill on a solo homerun by Sarah Higginbotham. That early run of support would prove to be all that Gill needed as the sophomore eventually went on to pitch a complete-game shutout.
 
Gill, who allowed just three hits, kept the Lady Reddies (15-17, 9-7 GAC) hitless until the fourth inning. After that initial hit, the Lady Reddies would string together consecutive singles in the sixth inning as they attempted to rally off of Gill. Gill would stifle the rally however as she induced a double play ball and then a lineout to get out of the inning unscathed.
 
After Gill worked out of the top of the sixth inning with her one-run lead intact, her teammates would give her breathing room as Garza parked a two-run homerun out to left field to give Gill and the Lady Muleriders a 3-0 lead. That would be the final score as Gill pitched a perfect seventh inning to seal her second shutout of the season.
 
In the nightcap, the Lady Muleriders found themselves without a hit and down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning. In that inning, however, the Lady Muleriders would climb back into the game in a major way as Garza hammered a grand slam out to left field to cut the deficit to 5-4. Prior to that grand slam by Garza, the Lady Muleriders had no one on and two outs in the inning, but three consecutive hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for Garza.
 
The score would remain 5-4 in favor of Henderson State until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Lady Muleriders grabbed a comfortable 10-5 lead by exploding for six runs on five hits. Brittany Wood, Kelsey Fisher, Mackenzie Spanko, and Higginbotham all had RBIs and Courtney Hudgins and Joella Bayles scored on wild pitches in the inning.
 
The offensive outburst benefitted Gill in the circle as she entered the game in relief to start the fifth inning. Now in line for her second win of the day, Gill would pitch a scoreless seventh inning as the Lady Muleriders completed the doubleheader sweep of Henderson State. The sweep also gave the Lady Muleriders a split in the four-game series against the Lady Reddies.
 
The Lady Muleriders will play their next conference series on the road as they will travel to Ada, Okla. for a four-game set against East Central. The first game of that series is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22nd.