Softball | 5/3/2017 7:50:00 AM
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No. 2 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS (NFCA #21)
LADY MULERIDERS
42-14 (32-12 GAC) |
No. 7 HENDERSON STATE
REDDIES
23-31 (17-25 GAC) |
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Leading Off
For the second-straight year, the Southern Arkansas softball team has eclipsed the 40-win mark, while also finishing in second-place in the Great American Conference standings after a regular season campaign that saw SAU go 42-14 overall and 32-12 in the GAC. As the No. 2-seed, SAU has drawn a first-round matchup with No. 7-seed Henderson State.
The Lady Muleriders ended the regular season with an offensive-charged four-game sweep of Southeastern Oklahoma in which they scored 47 runs. In the third game of that series, SAU exploded for 20 runs, the second-most runs scored in a game in program history.
That big offensive weekend reinvigorated one of best offenses in the GAC. Entering the GAC Tournament, SAU tops the league in eight offensive categories: slugging percentage (.549), on-base percentage (.421), runs scored (379), hits (489), RBIs (347), home runs (86), total bases (838), and walks (215).
The lineup responsible for that high offensive production features five players that have played and started in almost all 56 games while also hitting .325 or better with all having 55 or more hits. Three of those five players have 41 or more RBIs, with a pair of players owning 58 or more.
Additionally, at least one Lady Mulerider boasts the best mark in 10 offensive categories within the GAC. Four Lady Muleriders have double-digit home runs and combined make up for over 65 percent of SAU's 86 total home runs with a total of 58 collectively.
A relatively unheralded pitching staff possesses both a youth and veteran presence in starters freshman
Victoria Taylor (1.86 ERA) and senior
Kaylee Garner (1.74 ERA). The duo have combined for 35 of SAU's 42 wins, 272 strikeouts to just
60 walks and 19 complete games, while Garner has tossed a no-hitter.
The bullpen has been solid as well as
Jill Roye has four wins and three saves in 20 appearances and sports a 1.69 ERA with a 36-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Peyton Jenkins is 3-3 on the season with a save and owns a 2.21 ERA in 15
appearances. Collectively, opponents are hitting just .229 against the Lady Mulerider pitching staff.
For Henderson State, Michelle Sorensen has been the catalyst for the Reddies. She currently has a 15-14 record to go along with a 1.93 ERA. On the year, Sorensen has struck out 184 batters and held opponents to a .185 batting average.
As a team, HSU is batting .257 and are led by Keirsten Seahorn at .322. Additionally, Seahorn has 11 doubles, five home runs, and 35 RBIs.
First-pitch between the Lady Muleriders and Reddies is slated for 10:30 a.m. at the Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville, Ark.
