BENTONVILLE, Ark. – A two-run double by Ashton Atwell and run-scoring hits from Tyler Casada and Chelsea Jordan accounted for a four-run third-inning that saw Southern Arkansas take a commanding 5-0 lead over Henderson State, before cruising to an 8-1 victory and a spot in Sunday morning's Great American Conference Championship game with Harding, behind starter Kimmy Beasley's efficient five innings of work on Saturday night at the Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville, Arkansas.
 
The Lady Muleriders (44-9) advance to the finals of the Great American Conference Tournament and will face Harding for the sixth time in 2016. The Lady Bisons defeated SAU 5-4 in Saturday's winner's bracket final and a win by SAU in Sunday's opener will force a winner-take-all title game. It will be the second GAC Tournament Title Game in program history as SAU won the tournament in 2014 after defeating Southeastern Oklahoma twice to claim the league's automatic bid to the Central Region Tournament.
 
Beasley (22-4), after suffering just her fourth loss of the season earlier in the day to Harding, delivered five strong innings, while allowing just five hits. Peyton Jenkins entered in relief to begin the sixth and allowed just one hit and a sacrifice fly.
 
A two-out single by Maddie Dow opened scoring in Saturday's nightcap as Liz Hudgins raced home to give SAU an early 1-0 lead. The aforementioned run-producing third inning proved to be the difference as SAU was able to get to HSU starter Michelle Sorenson.
 
An RBI-single by Jordan in the fifth inning as well as a fielder's choice-RBI from Hudgins added two more runs for the Lady Muleriders as SAU led 7-0 after five frames. HSU would answer with their lone run in the sixth inning, but Southern Arkansas would earn it back in the seventh as an RBI-double from the bat of Summer Ehrig scored Casada as SAU defeated Henderson State 8-1 to advance.
 
SAU banged out 14 hits as the entire lineup reached via base hit led by Casada's four base knocks and a pair of hits apiece from Jordan and Ehrig. Atwell and Casada each scored a pair of runs, while Atwell and Jordan led SAU with a pair of RBI each.
 
Live stats and live video links for SAU's Championship Sunday matchup with Harding are available here: http://greatamericanconference.com/sports/2016/4/14/2016-GAC-SB-CHAMPIONSHIPS.aspx.  
 
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 in Bentonville.