Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After dropping the opening game of Friday's doubleheader by a score of 3-1 in 11 innings, the Southern Arkansas softball team bounced back with a 4-3 win in the nightcap to force the split. The win also was the team's 30th of the season, marking the first time a SAU softball team has reached the 30-win mark since 2005.
 
In the opener, both teams would find it tough to generate any offense against the other's starter as SAU's Shelby Miller and SWOSU's Julianne Martinez squared off in a bona fide pitcher's duel.
 
Miller, who did not allow her first hit in the game until the third inning, pounded the strike zone as she racked up a season-high 12 strikeouts. Through 10 scoreless innings in the circle, Miller had only allowed three hits. In the top of the 11th, however, with the international tie breaker still in effect, the Lady Bulldogs (13-37, 9-29 GAC) would break the scoreless tie on a leadoff double by Adrienne Martinez. A hit in the ensuing at-bat chased Miller from the start. Both runners would eventually come home to score, making it 3-0 SWOSU.
 
In the bottom of the 11th, the Lady Muleriders (30-23, 23-15 GAC) would put together a two-out rally against J. Martinez, who had pitched her way in and out danger all game long as she had stranded 14 base-runners through 10 innings. Starting the two-out rally was Miller as she drew a walk to bring up Maddie Dow, representing the tying run. After falling behind in the count 1-2, Dow lofted a single into left field to score Darian Harris, who was placed on second base to start the frame. That would be all the Lady Muleriders would be able to get in the 11th, however, as J. Martinez got an infield pop-up to end the game.
 
In the night cap, the Lady Bulldogs scored first as they picked up their first run on a wild pitch in the top of the third. In the bottom of that inning, Audrey Farfan would double to left field, scoring Miller and knotting the game at one-all.
 
An inning later, Miller would make it a 3-1 game in favor of SAU as she hit a two-run double to centerfield and then advance to third base on a throwing error by the shortstop. In the top of the next inning, however, that two-run lead would be erased on a two-RBI single down the right field line by A. Martinez.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Muleriders would push back on top by a score of 4-3 as an infield single by Chelsea Ivy scored pinch-runner Lindsey Wallace. That run would prove to be the game-winner as game two starter Miranda Cuff made that lead stick by holding the Lady Bulldogs to just one hit over the final two innings.
 
Cuff, who went the distance and struck-out a season-high five batters, picked up her eighth of the season. It was also the first complete game for Cuff as well.
 
The Lady Muleriders will be back in action for games three and four of the series on Saturday, April 26 with a first-pitch time of 11 a.m. In between games, the Lady Muleriders will honor the three seniors on this year's club, Taylor Clifton, Savannah Quintana (manager), and Miranda Vest.