DENVER, Colo. – A four-run first inning set the tone for No. 15 Southern Arkansas in Wednesday's second elimination game as the Lady Muleriders topped the (RV) University of Charleston (50-12), 7-0 behind a complete-game shutout from starter Kaylee Garner as SAU advanced in the NCAA Division II Women's College Softball World Series to face No. 1 West Texas A&M on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. MDT.
The Lady Muleriders (52-10) are one of six teams remaining in the national tournament and a win over the top-ranked Lady Buffs in Thursday's 2:30 p.m. MDT elimination game would put Southern Arkansas in a rematch with No. 3 North Alabama at 7:30 p.m. MDT on Thursday night.
Southern Arkansas' early run production would be more than enough for Garner (25-3) as the junior pitcher went the distance allowing just six hits, while striking out six batters in tossing her 18th complete game of 2016 campaign.
After being held scoreless in their tournament opener on Tuesday, the Lady Mulerider offense found their stride early against Charleston starter Jessie Rowe as SAU tacked four runs in the first inning beginning with a leadoff walk to Liz Hudgins, who on the pitch before lined out to centerfield but remained at the plate due to an illegal pitch that sparked the Lady Mulerider offense.
SAU batted through the lineup in the first inning as Taylor Guin followed with a single and Darian Harris reached first via walk as the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with one out for Maddie Dow. Dow placed an inside pitch into the left centerfield gap to score Hudgins and Ashton Atwell followed the Dow AB by reaching on an error by the shortstop to score Guin and give SAU a 2-0 lead.
A RBI-single from Tyler Casada score Harris and ended Rowe's night in the circle as Charleston called on the Mountain East Conference Pitcher of the Year in Alli Burdette who allowed a sacrifice fly to Chelsea Jordan that plated Dow and ended the run-scoring first for SAU.
Behind a solid performance in the circle from Garner was a well-timed package of quality defensive plays from the Lady Mulerider defense. In the bottom of the first, with one out and a runner on first, an impressive "strike-out, throw-out" ended the Charleston threat as Casada fired down to Summer Ehrig who applied a firm tag to end the inning.
In the top half of the third inning, a pair of two-out infield singles pushed across two more runs for Southern Arkansas as Ehrig singled to the pitcher to score pinch-runner Sydney Johnson, before Hudgins followed with an infield single to third base that plated Atwell as the Lady Muleriders took a 6-0 lead after 2 ½ innings of action. Guin added a nice putout racing to her left to rob a base hit down the right field line to end the Charleston threat in the third.
Dow dropped a 2-0 pitch down the left field line in the fourth inning to score Brooke Goad to end the scoring for Southern Arkansas. Garner worked around runners at first and second for the Golden Eagles in the fifth inning and received an impressive 8-2 putout from Hudgins to Casada that erased a Charleston run to keep Garner's ninth shutout intact.
Southern Arkansas collected ten hits on Wednesday night lead by Dow's three singles and two RBI. Hudgins and Guin added two hits apiece from the top of the order. Atwell, Casada, Jordan and Ehrig all registered RBI, while 1-6 in the order scored a run.
No. 1 West Texas A&M enters Thursday's matchup with a 59-4 record as Lone Star Conference Champions and representatives of the South Central Region. The Lady Buffs defeated (RV) Grand Valley State 4-0 in their World Series opener and entered the loser's bracket after an 8-5 loss to No. 5 Humboldt State.
Check out a day two highlight reel of all the day two World Series action in Denver: http://www.ncaa.com/video/softball/2016-05-19/dii-softball-day-two-recap.
Live stats and live video links are available here: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/softball/d2. A live radio link is available here: http://www.magnoliaradio.com/.
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 continuing coverage of Southern Arkansas' World Series run.
