ADA, Okla. – Sophomore power hitter
Maddie Dow continues to rewrite the Southern Arkansas softball record book as she connected for an SAU record three homeruns while adding six RBIs to lead the Lady Muleriders to a 7-1, game one win over East Central on Friday afternoon, before SAU dropped the Great American Conference series finale 8-0.
Dow added the only two runs of the series-opening contest yesterday with a two-run homerun in the fifth inning. Heading into Friday's action, Dow was tied for the conference lead in walks (26) in large part to teams choosing to pitch around her. That was far from the case in game 1 on Friday.
Jami Godwin scattered nine hits in a seven inning, complete game win allowing only a run in the first inning, before Dow provided all the offensive output the freshman pitcher would need.
Dow cranked a full count offering to left centerfield in the top of the second to tie the game at 1 and SAU added another run in the fourth inning on a Tiger error that scored
Ashton Atwell to give Southern Arkansas a 2-1 lead.
Prior to SAU taking the lead in the fourth, Godwin worked out of consecutive two-out, bases loaded jams in the second and third innings.
The fifth inning proved to be the most successful of the weekend as Dow belted a grand slam to opposite field to push SAU's lead to five, 6-1.
Courtney Hudgins singled up the middle to lead off the inning and a bunt single by
Taylor Guin put runners at first and second. A throwing error allowed
Chelsea Ivy to reach base, before a fielder's choice erased Hudgins at the plate. Down 1-2 in the count, Dow delivered with her second long ball in as many at-bats to give Southern Arkansas the aforementioned 6-1 lead.
With one out in the seventh, Dow capped off her record-breaking game with her second consecutive opposite field bomb; this time a solo shot down the right field line. Godwin made quick work of the Tigers in the home half of the seventh in eight pitches to secure the 7-1 win.
In the series finale, the Tigers collected eight hits, scoring eight runs while taking advantage of four Lady Mulerider errors to take the second game 8-0 in five innings and the conference series, 3-1.
Atwell added three hits in the doubleheader and Dow added four more walks to bring her season total to 30.
The Lady Muleriders face a busy midweek schedule with the second half of their Great American Conference series against Arkansas-Monticello scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, in Monticello. Following the twin bill with the Cotton Blossoms, Southern Arkansas heads to Memphis, Tennessee, for a doubleheader with Gulf South Conference member Christian Brothers on Wednesday, April 8, beginning at 1 p.m.
