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No. 2-SEED
(#15) SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
LADY MULERIDERS
49-9 (33-8 GAC)
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No. 1-SEED
(#7) ARKANSAS TECH
GOLDEN SUNS
49-9 (34-6 GAC)
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Leading Off
Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech, the top-two seeds in the Central Region are set to square off in a best two-of-three Super Regional for the right to go to Denver, Colo. for the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series next week.
Both Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech are 49-9 overall on the season and both rolled through their regional tournaments which were held on their respective campuses last weekend. Combined, the two teams went 6-0 with just five runs surrendered across 44 innings of play.
Earlier this season, these two teams met in a four-game Great American Conference series in Russellville. That series was split among the two teams with No. 1-seed Arkansas Tech claiming game one of each day's doubleheader, while No. 2-seed Southern Arkansas forced the twin-bill split each day with a win in the nightcap.
The similarities among the teams this season extends to conference hardware as Arkansas Tech claimed the regular season title, while SAU won the conference tournament two weeks ago.
Furthermore, the Golden Suns and Lady Muleriders are similar statistically as both teams rank first or second in the GAC in nearly every category except for team batting average in which SAU ranks second and Tech 3rd. They are, however, the top-two teams in fielding percentage and team ERA. SAU holds a slight advantage in fielding percentage and Arkansas Tech narrowly bests SAU in ERA.
Game one of the series is scheduled for a first-pitch of 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex in Russellville. Game two is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first-pitch on Thursday with an "If Necessary" game scheduled for 3:30 p.m. later that day.
