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GAME NOTES (PDF) | SAU | ATU

Leading Off
In the first matchup of NFCA Top-25 teams in Great American Conference history, #23 Southern Arkansas travels to Russellville for a four-game GAC slate against league-leading and #5 ArkansasTech this weekend in a highly-anticipated series with heavy postseason implications on the line.

SAU is coming off a four-game league sweep of Harding in which the Lady Muleriders outscored the Lady Bisons 29-9. The Lady Muleriders are 31-4 overall this season and 23-4 in league play, currently sit in second-place in the conference standings and are ranked in the NFCA Division II Top-25 Coach's Poll for the first time in program history.

This weekend, the Lady Muleriders square off with their toughest opponent yet as they travel into hostile territory to take on #5 Arkansas Tech (36-3, 26-2 GAC), who currently sits in the driver's seat in the conference standings.

ATU enters the series having won eight games in a row, while owning an 8-2 record at home during the 2016 season. Last year's series was scheduled for Magnolia, but was moved to Russellville after heavy rains forced the switch. Tech swept the Lady Muleriders in 2015 in a series that included a one-run game, an extra-inning affair and a run-rule defeat.

This will be the 47th meeting all-time between the Lady Muleriders and the Golden Suns, and the ninth-straight in Russellville. The series started in 2004 with SAU taking the three-game set 2-1. Southern Arkansas is 7-16 all-time in Russellville, having won a pair of games in the last eight meetings.

SAU boasts league bests in team ERA (1.47), fielding percentage (.973) and batting average (.340). The Golden Suns are 2nd in batting average (.327), 2nd in fielding percentage (.966), and 2nd in team ERA (1.76).

First-pitch for Friday's Doubleheader at the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex in Russellville is scheduled for 3 p.m., with Saturday's Doubleheader slated for a noon start. Be sure to check www.MuleriderAthletics.com or follow us on Twitter @MuleriderSports for the most up-to-date news on Lady Mulerider Softball, including recaps of all the SAU action this weekend.