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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Freshman outfielder
Brooke Goad broke a four-all tie in the top of the eighth inning as she belted a three-run homerun to help lift the Southern Arkansas softball team to a 7-4 win against Ouachita Baptist in the back-half of Friday afternoon's doubleheader at Sully Anderson Field.
The Goad game-winning blast was her second homerun of the day and it came as an act of vengeance for the Lady Muleriders (7-9, 2-4 GAC) as they fell victim to a walk-off grand slam in the opener of the doubleheader on Friday.
Goad's heroics in the top of the eighth inning of game two would not have been possible, however, if the Lady Muleriders had not plated a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at four-all. In that inning, Goad flew out to lead off, but a full-count walk to
Maddie Dow in the next at-bat led to a RBI double off the bat of
Sarah Higginbotham, scoring Dow. A batter later,
Chelsea Ivy drove in Higginbotham to score the tying run and ultimately force extras.
Now with a three-run lead in hand, freshman utility player
Shelby Miller entered the circle in the bottom half of the inning looking to close out the win for SAU. That half inning would not start off well for Miller as the Lady Tigers (7-9, 3-3 GAC) put their first two batters on base thanks to a lead-off double and a walk. Miller would bear down from there, however, as she got the next three batters in order to secure her second save of the season.
Miranda Cuff would earn the win in the game as she pitched seven innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs, walking two, and striking out three.
In the opener, the Lady Muleriders would score eight runs on 12 hits. Goad, Higginbotham, Miller, and
Audrey Farfan would contribute heavily to that hit total as the four combined for nine hits. That four-some also accounted for all seven of the Lady Muleriders' RBIs in the first game.
The Lady Muleriders will return to the field for the final two games of the series on Saturday, March 1. First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
