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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
Sb central Region Preview (2016)

Softball By: Daniel Gallegos

No. 15-ranked SAU Softball set to host NCAA Central Region 2 Tournament; open with Central Oklahoma (Game Notes)

1616
 
No. 2-SEED 
(#15) SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
LADY MULERIDERS
46-9 (33-8 GAC)
888

No. 7-SEED
(RV) CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
BRONCHOS
39-18 (19-7 MIAA)
Thursday, May 6 | 5:30 p.m.
Dawson Field at the Mulerider Softball Complex - Magnolia, Ark.

Leading Off
The No. 15-ranked Southern Arkansas softball team is set to play in their second NCAA Central Region Tournament in the last three years, but this year, SAU will have the benefit of staying in their own beds as they were chosen as one of two host sites for the Central Region Tournament as it was announced by the NCAA on Monday morning.

SAU's site of the Central Region Tournament features No. 3-seed Missouri Western State, No. 6-seed Minnesota Duluth and No. 7-seed Central Oklahoma. All four of the teams in this site regional have won 35 or more games with SAU and Missouri Western over the 40-win mark,

The selection of SAU as a host institution came after the Lady Muleriders went 5-1 and won the Great American Conference Tournament Championship (their second GAC title in the last three years) to secure the No. 2-seed in the Central Region.

In the GAC Tournament, the Lady Muleriders won their first two games, but fell to Harding in the winner's bracket final, forcing SAU to play three-straight elimination games en route to the tournament title.

SAU's first opponent in the Central Region Tournament will be the No. 7-seed Central Oklahoma Bronchos. UCO is currently 39-18 and the Bronchos played for the MIAA Tournament title after eliminating Pittsburg State, but then Missouri Western edged UCO in the championship final, 4-3, later that day.

Statistically, the Bronchos are hitting .356 as a team with 102 doubles, 23 triples and 76 homeruns. In the circle, they have a team ERA of 3.92 and have tossed five shutouts on the year. As a team SAU is batting .319 with 82 doubles, 5 triples and 64 homeruns. In the circle, SAU has a team ERA of 1.72 and the staff have tossed 20
shutouts.

First-pitch for SAU's tournament opener at Dawson Field at the Mulerider Softball Complex is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
 
 
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