vs. (7) Arkansas-Monticello COTTON BLOSSOMS (26-28)
Thursday, May 1 @ Noon
Bentonville, Ark. (Tiger Athletic Complex)
Leading Off
For the third-consective year, the Southern Arkansas softball team has advanced to the GAC Tournament, but they will do so this year as the No. 2-seed, their highest such seed in GAC Tournament history. As the No. 2-seed, the Lady Muleriders will take on No. 7-seed Arkansas-Monticello. SAU and UAM split their four-game series this year with both teams picking up a win on their home field.
For the Lady Muleriders, 2014 has been a record-breaking year all around as they have set numerous team and individual records while also reaching the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2005 season. Statistically, the Lady Muleriders are led by a duo of outstanding freshmen. Shelby Miller currently leads the team in average at .414 (77-of-186) while Maddie Dow leads the team in RBIs (55) and homeruns (17). Upperclassmen Sarah Higginbotham and Audrey Farfan have been contributors offensively as well as both are hitting over .300. In terms of pitching, the Lady Muleriders are likely to use a three-pitcher rotation with Miller, Hanna Gill, and Miranda Cuff all seeing time in the circle. Miller leads the staff in wins (13), innings pitched (189.0), and strikeouts (133).
For the Cotton Blossoms, they are led offensively by Kali Piha. On the year, Piha is hitting .363 (66-for-182) with 10 homeruns and 38 RBIs. In terms of pitching, UAM is paced by Katie Slaughter and Courtney Wilson. Slaughter is 14-13 with a 3.21 ERA while Wilson is 11-13 with a 3.30 ERA. The two have combined to pitch all but 34 innings this season.
Slugging it Out
Through 55 games of the season, the Lady Muleriders have showed their lineup has some potent power potential as they have clubbed out 136 extra-base hits. 65 of those left the yard while 69 have gone for doubles and two have gone for triples. As a team, the Lady Muleriders have a .480 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 55 games, three true freshmen and three sophomores have seen regular action.
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 (133), wins (13), and has a single-season record seven 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 .414 average (77-for-186). 25 of those hits have gone for extra-bases as she is third on the team in slugging% (.683).
Powered by Dow
Freshman designated player Maddie Dow has been the Lady Muleriders' top-power threat in their potent lineup as she has smashed a SAU and GAC single-season
record 18 homeruns. Dow has also leads the team in RBIs and has driven in 55 so far this season. Her 55 RBIs are a SAU single-season record and she is one off of current GAC leader Jordynn VanPelt for the GAC single-season record.
Runs, Runs, Runs
Through 55 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 games in which they have two or fewer runs, they are 1-12. When they have scored three or more runs in a game, they are 31-11, When they score 10 or more runs, they are 6-0.
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.
Record-Breaking Performances
The 2014 Lady Mulerider softball team has enjoyed a record-setting season both from a team standpoint and from an individual one as well. The following are the team and individual records set so far this year.
Records Set:
• Runs Scored (Team): ........................ 294; prev. 272 (2005)
• Homeruns (Team): ................................ 65; prev. 50 (2006)
• Runs Batted In (Team): ..................... 270; prev. 236 (2005)
• Total Bases (Team): .......................... 730; prev. 691 (2005)
• Saves (Team): ........................................... 8; prev. 4 (2006)
• Runs Scored (Ind.): ................................. 48 - Shelby Miller
prev. 47 - Lauren Fraizer (2005)
• Homeruns (Ind.)........................................ 18 - Maddie Dow
prev. 15 - Brooke Goad (2014)
• Runs Batted In (Ind.)................................. 55 - Maddie Dow
prev. 50 - Tisha Thompson (2007)
• Total Bases (Ind.).............. 127 - Maddie Dow/Shelby Miller
prev. 113 - Cassie Blackwood (2005)
• Saves (Ind.)................................................ 7 - Shelby Miller
prev. 4 - Cassie Blackwood (2004)
• Games Finished (Ind.)............................. 19 - Shelby Miller
prev. 18 - Cassie Blackwood (2004)
Record-Watch
The 2014 Lady Mulerider softball team has enjoyed a record-setting season both from a team standpoint and from an individual one as well. The following are the
team and individual records that have the potential to be set this year.
Records Watch:
• Batting Average (Team): ...................... .304 (462-for-1522)
..................................record, .298 [469-for-1574] - (2005)
• Slugging Percentage (Team): ...................................... .480
............................................................record, .439 (2005)
• On-base Percentage (Team): ....................................... .373
.........................................................................360 (2005)
• At-bats (Team): ............................................................ 1522
...........................................................record, 1574 (2005)
• Hits (Team): ................................................................... 462
.............................................................record, 469 (2005)
• Walks (Team): ............................................................... 130
.............................................................record, 139 (2002)
• Hit-by-Pitch (Team).......................................................... 44
record, 50 (2013)
• Wins (Team)..................................................................... 32
record, 34 (2000)
• Innings Pitched (Team)............................................... 385.2
record, 401.2 (2000)
• Batting Average (Ind.)....... .414 (77-for-186) - Shelby Miller
record, .392 (49-for-125) - Joanna Jones (2008)
• Slugging Percentage (Ind.)....................829 - Brooke Goad
record, .612 Tisha Thompson (2007)
• At-bats (Ind.).......................................... 186 - Shelby Miller
.................................. record, 205 - Lauren Fraizer (2005)
• Hits (Ind.)................................................. 77 - Shelby Miller
.................................... record, 78 - Lauren Fraizer (2005)
• Walks (Ind.)............................................... 27 - Maddie Dow
.................................record, 30 - Tisha Thompson (2005)
• Pitching Appearances (Ind.)..................... 44 - Shelby Miller
.......................................... record, 52 - Kayla King (2006)
• Putouts (Ind.).........................................356 - Darian Harris
................................... record, 409 - Chelsea Knox (2011)
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