The Southern Arkansas softball team enjoyed a successful opening weekend as they took part in the University of West Florida Spring Invitational and came away with a 4-2 record. Their only two losses came to No. 6-ranked Valdosta State. In their final game of the invitational, the Lady Muleriders out-slugged Midwestern State for a record-setting 22-17 win in 10 innings.
One of the reasons for the Lady Muleriders' success in the UWF Invitational was their offense, in particular,their ability to hit for power. Over the six games, the Lady Muleriders hit 10 homeruns with seven of the bombs coming from the first three spots in the lineup.
Brooke Goad led the team by blasting three from the leadoff spot,
Maddie Dow added two from the twohole, and
Shelby Miller belted a pair in the three-spot.
This weekend, the Lady Muleriders will look to keep that hot offensive start rolling as they will take part in the Midwestern State Invitational. During the invitational, the Lady Muleriders will take on Cameron University (2-14), Northeastern State (2-15), Rogers State (2-15), and host-school Midwestern State (2-15).
Dow Powers to GAC POW
Freshman designated player
Maddie Dow powered her way being named co-Great American Conference Player of the Week as she turned in an opening weekend to remember. In her first collegiate game, a 3-1 win over Shorter University, Dow hit her first career homerun as she belted a go-ahead two-run homerun in the fifth inning. On Monday, Dow closed out the weekend in style as she set GAC and SAU records for at-bats in a game (7) and RBIs in a game (7) in SAU's wild 22-17 win over Midwestern
State. All told for the week, Dow hit .292 (7-for-24) with two doubles, two homeruns, and nine RBIs.
Power Surge
Through the first six games of the season, the Lady Muleriders have showed their lineup has some potent power potential as they clubbed out 24 extra-base hits. 10 of those left the yard while 13 went for doubles and one went for a three-bagger.
Youth Movement
So far this season, head coach Corey Lyon has penned a familiar lineup each game and it is one that features a lot of young and talented players. Through six games, five underclassmen have started all games with three of those being true freshmen.
Gill returns as SAU's Ace
Having pitched just two season at SAU, junior starting pitcher
Hanna Gill has already set nine school records and is on the cusp of adding several other records to her name in 2014. Last year, Gill anchored the Lady Mulerider pitching rotation and her outstanding year in the circle landed her All- GAC First-Team honors.
