Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Down to their final out and trailing 1-0 in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader against Harding, the Southern Arkansas softball team would get consecutive singles and benefit from an error in the field to set the stage for Maddie Dow to collect the game-winning hit as she singled into right field, giving SAU a 2-1 walk-off win. The momentum of that hit would carry over into the nightcap in big way as the Lady Muleriders won 13-1, completing the series sweep.
 
Saturday's opening game was the definition of a pitcher's duel as SAU's Shelby Miller and HU's Amber Rollins matched one another seemingly pitch-for-pitch. The two would combine to allow just four hits and no runs over the first five innings. Three of those hits during that stretch belonged to the Lady Muleriders (15-11, 10-6 GAC).
 
In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Bisons (15-14, 7-9 GAC) would break the scoreless tie as they scored an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead. The Lady Muleriders would get a two-out hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the frame, but nothing would come of it as Rollins got a pop-up out to end the sixth.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Miller would work around a two-out single to keep the score 1-0. In the bottom of the frame, two quick outs put the Lady Muleriders down to their final out. Then, down to her final strike, Kim Whelehon would reach base on an infield single to third base. A batter later, Brooke Goad singled to centerfield and then Whelehon and Goad both advanced 60-feet more as the Bisons' centerfielder bobbled the ball.
 
With Whelehon and Goad now in scoring position, the Lady Muleriders were primed to win the game with just a single. And just a single they would get as Dow, down to her final strike, went with an outside pitch and served it into right field, scoring Whelehon and Goad, giving SAU the thrilling 2-1 win.
 
Thanks to that win in the opener, the Lady Muleriders had the series in hand and were now looking to sweep the four-game set.
 
Hoping to stave off the sweep, the Lady Bisons would score a run off of a couple of hits in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, however, the Lady Muleriders would score five runs, all with two outs, to take a 5-1 lead. Audrey Farfan, Chelsea Ivy, Darian Harris, Taylor Guin, and Goad would all have RBIs in the frame.
 
An inning later, Miller would lead off with a homerun to make it a 6-1 game in favor of SAU. Five more runs on five more hits followed in the third inning as the Lady Muleriders opened up an 11-1 lead. In that inning, Dow had a two-RBI double, Sarah Higginbotham had a RBI-single, and Farfan smashed a two-run bomb to left field.
 
The scoring and hitting would not stop there as the Lady Muleriders scored two more runs on four hits in the fourth to bring the game to its eventual final of 13-1. In the fourth, Higginbotham collected another RBI and Leigha Doyle also notched a RBI on a single to the shortstop.
 
SAU starter Hanna Gill would get the win after it was determined prior to the game that she would only pitch two innings and then give way to a reliever. Gill would be relieved by Miller to start the third inning. Miller would go on to earn the save as she pitched the final three innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. The save is Miller's fourth of the season, tying her for the single-season record at SAU.
 

The Lady Muleriders will remain at home for their next action as they are set to play a non-conference doubleheader against Delta State on Tuesday, March 18. First-pitch for the twin-bill is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Lady Mulerider Field.