SEARCY, Ark. – The Lady Mulerider softball team upset No. 4-seed Winona State, 5-0, in first round of the Central Region Tournament on Thursday in Searcy, Arkansas.
TEAM RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders: 46-16
Winona State Warriors: 49-12
PITCHING DECISIONS
W:
Kaylee Garner (20-3)
L: Makenna Larsen
HOW IT HAPPENED
- SAU had baserunners on in every inning except for the second as they were held from scoring until the top of the fifth. In that frame, Brooke Goad singled up the middle and Maddie Dow followed with a base-knock through the left side to put runners on first and second. Jill Roye reached on a fielder's choice a batter later and on that same play Goad successfully swiped home on the throwing error by the shortstop to take the 1-0 lead.
- Winona had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of that frame with the lead-off hitter on. Garner struck out the next two batters she faced then gave up a single that placed runners on the corners, but was able to get out of the inning without allowing any runs scored.
- The Lady Muleriders strung together five timely hits that encouraged a 5-0 score in the top of the sixth. Tyler Casada led off with a single through the left side, but was thrown out later at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt that allowed Megan Godoyo to reach first base. Marina Duran reached on an infield single and Rachel Miller later extended the lead as she roped an RBI single down the third base line, 2-0 SAU.
- In that same sequence, Goad drew a 4-pitch walk to load the bases and Dow laced a 2-2 pitch into left field to plate another run. Roye stepped to the plate next and tallied her a pair of RBI's of her own with an opposite field hit to make it 5-0, SAU.
IN THE CIRCLE
- Starting pitcher, Garner, picked up the win in the circle for SAU as she tossed all seven innings with seven strikeouts.
- Garner was perfect until the fifth inning when she allowed Winona's only two hits of the game in that inning.
AT THE PLATE
- Roye had the team-best 2 RBI's on the day.
- Dow had an RBI, and was 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
- Miller tallied the other RBI on a hit and had a run scored.
- Casada was 2-for-4 on the day.
UP NEXT
- The Lady Muleriders will face the winner of Harding and Missouri Western tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Central Region Tournament in Searcy, Arkansas.
