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Southern Arkansas LADY MULERIDERS (11-11, 6-6 GAC) |
vs. Harding LADY BISONS (15-10, 7-5 GAC)
Friday, March 14 @ 2 p.m. | DH
Saturday, March 15 @ Noon | DH
Magnolia, Ark. (Lady Mulerider Field)
Live Stats | Live Video |
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Leading Off
The Southern Arkansas softball team is set to play Harding University for the first time ever as the Lady Bisons are back on the diamond for the first time since 1985. The Lady Muleriders began fielding a team in 1999.
Despite playing in their first season in almost 30 years, the Lady Bisons have proved that they are a team to be contended with this year as they enter play with a 15-10 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the GAC. The Lady Muleriders will enter play with an 11-11 overall record and a 6-6 mark in the GAC.
The Lady Muleriders are coming off of a series split with Henderson State while the Lady Bisons are coming off of a 3-1 series win over East Central.
The Lady Muleriders are led in hitting by their three standout true freshmen,
Maddie Dow,
Brooke Goad, and
Shelby Miller. All three are hitting over .370 with Miller leading the team at .416 (32-for-77). Goad leads the team in homeruns (10) and RBIs (22).
In the circle, the Lady Muleriders are led by Miller as she leads the team in wins (4), innings pitched (72.2) and strikeouts (45).
Harding is led in batting by Courtney Derrick and Kinsey Beck. Both are hitting over .400. Brookelynn Moon leads the team in HRs (3) and RBIs (20). In the circle, Harding is led by Amber Rollins. Rollins is 8-4 with a 2.66 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
Slugging it Out
Through 22 games of the season, the Lady Muleriders have showed their lineup has some potent power potential as they have clubbed out 54 extra-base hits. 24 of those left the yard while 30 went for doubles and two have gone for triples. As a team, the Lady Muleriders have a .473 slugging percentage.
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 22 games, three true freshmen have started every game.
Gill returns as SAU's Ace
Having pitched just two seasons 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.
It's Miller Time
Freshman utility player
Shelby Miller has had a tremendous start to her collegiate career. A native of Brazoria, Texas, Miller currently leads the pitching staff in strikeouts (45), wins (4), and has a team-best three saves. While Miller has been good in the circle, she has been even better in the batter's box as she is first on the team with a .416 average (32-for-77). 10 of those hits
have gone for extra-bases as she is third on the team in slugging% (.676).
Powered by Goad
Freshman outfielder
Brooke Goad has hit in the leadoff spot in all 22 games this season, but that does not mean that Goad is not one of the top power threats in the GAC. So far this season, Goad has belted 10 homeruns, ranking her first in the GAC and fourth in NCAA Division II. Goad is now just two homeruns shy of tying the SAU single-season record.
Runs, Runs, Runs
Through 22 games this season, it has been evident that when the Lady Muleriders score more than two runs in a game, they have a great chance of winning. So far, in game in which they have two or fewer runs, they are 0-5. When they have scored three or more runs in a game, they are 11-6, When they score 10 or more runs, they are 3-0.
Milestone Win #350
The Lady Muleriders' 4-1 win over Ouachita Baptist in the series finale on March 1 not only gave SAU a series win, but it also gave the program their 350th win. The program started at SAU in 1999.
