MAGNOLIA, Ark. - #5 Southern Arkansas dominated day two of the SAU Softball Invitational in an impressive performance as they swept a pair of run-rule victories against Newman University and Tarleton State. Senior Tyler Casada recorded a career-high five RBI's in the 9-1 win over TSU.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)

• In game one, Southern Arkansas' offense came out hot as they scored three runs within the first two innings.
• A fielder's choice from the bat of Maddie Dow allowed Brooke Goad to score from third after she reached on a one-out triple down the left field line.
• Back-to-back solo homers from Megan Godoyo and Marina Duran gave SAU a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
• In the top of the third inning, an RBI triple from Taylor Mannis would get Newman on the board with their first RBI of the game.
• In that same inning, the Jets captured their second and final RBI of the afternoon after a single to left center scored Mannis, as Newman trailed by one, 3-2.
• SAU starter Victoria Taylor followed with a 1-2-3 fourth inning forcing a ground out and two line-outs.
• SAU's offense blew up in the fifth inning as they scored seven runs on five hits. Islava's single to left center scored Taylor Stricklin, who entered as a pinch runner for Faith Otts, who drew a one-out walk.
• Jill Roye singled to left center scoring Goad and Islava giving SAU a three-run advantage over the Jets, 5-2. SAU plated their sixth run on a Newman fielding error.
• Duran's bat stayed hot as she banged a double to left field scoring Godoyo and pinch runner Chloe Hicks as SAU increased their lead to 8-2.Otts singled through the left side to plate Duran pushing the lead to 9-2.
• The Lady Muleriders' tenth and final run came off of the bat of freshman Yulissa Hinojosa that claimed the first run-rule victory of the day for SAU.

 
FOR SOUTHERN ARKANSAS:

• Duran led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate including a double, three RBI's and a pair of runs scored.
• Roye followed with a hit and two RBI's.
• Dow, Godoyo, Otts, and Hinojosa each had an RBI.
• Islava had a pair of hits and one run scored.
• Taylor registered the win against the Jets in her first collegiate start after allowing only two runs on six hits five innings of play while also striking out seven of the 20 batters she faced.

 
FOR THE OPPOSITION:

• Mannis led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate including two hits and one RBI.
• Mikayla Medbery accounted for the second RBI.
• Delaney Hiegert produced a 2-for-2 day at the plate with one run scored.
• Kate Smith took the loss in the circle allowing 10 runs on nine hits, while giving up two homeruns.

 

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HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)

• In the second game, Tarleton got their offense started early on a sacrifice fly by Savannah Stech, that scored Maddie Quintinar who lead off the inning with a double into the left centerfield gap.
• The Lady Muleriders answered back in the second inning as Maddie Dow legged out a triple to right field that set up a four-run inning.
• In that same inning, Roye captured her first RBI of the game with a single through the right side, scoring Dow.
• Godoyo and Duran would each follow with a pair of singles to leave the bases juiced for Casada, who blasted a double into the left centerfield gap that scored three runs.
• Garner, who received the start for SAU, found her groove after giving up a lead-off walk in the top of the second inning as she retired the next three batters she faced.
• SAU scored their fifth run in the bottom of the second inning as Brooke Goad poked a full-count outside pitch into left field that scored Rachel Miller who led off the inning with a single up the middle.
• SAU offense scored an additional three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on hits from Roye and Casada.
• Islava crossed the plate courtesy of a single up the middle by Roye, bringing the SAU lead to 6-1. Subsequently, Casada's two-out, two-RBI single up the middle gave SAU their seventh and eighth runs to close out the fourth inning.
• In the fifth inning, pinch hitter Corbin Talbert plated SAU's ninth and final run with a two-out single into left center that ended the game in walk-off fashion, 9-1.

 
FOR SOUTHERN ARKANSAS:

• Roye was 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and two RBI's.
• Casada was 2-for-3 and collected five RBIs in game two of Saturday's double header.
• Dow was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of walks.
• Godoyo, Talbert, Duran, and Miller each accounted for a hit.
• Talbert and Goad each had an RBI.
• In four innings pitched, Garner allowed only four hits while registering five strikeouts and five fly-outs against 17 batters faced.
• Roye closed the game in the circle pitching one inning, while striking out two of the four batters she faced and allowing just a single hit.

FOR THE OPPOSITION:
 

• Stech was 1-for-2 at the plate producing Tarleton's only RBI of the game.
• Quintinar was 2-for-2 with a double and one run scored.
• Avery Mullendore and Flores each had a hit apiece.
• Haley Freyman saw 4 innings on the mound, allowing eight runs, nine hits, and five walks against 27 batters faced.
• Alyssa Ringhausen came in relief in the circle giving up a run and a hit against five batters faced.

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OF NOTE:

• The Lady Muleriders combined for a total of 19 runs-scored and 19 hits on the day.
• Garner, Roye, and Taylor combined for 14 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched.
• A day after committing three errors in a 3-2 season-opening win, Southern Arkansas was perfect in the field through 10 innings of play.
• Casada's impressive offensive power in game two lauded a new career-high in RBI's with five.
• Roye was 3-for-7 on the day with four RBI's and a single run scored.
• It is the second time SAU has recorded a pair of run-rule wins on the same day of the invitational; having done so last season in a pair of 8-0 wins against Newman and Rogers State.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Lady Muleriders return to action tomorrow for the final day of play on their opening weekend with a matchup against Texas A&M University- Commerce. First-pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Dawson Field.