MAGNOLIA, Ark. – A pair of pitching duels in Monday's doubleheader caused a clawing fight to victory for SAU as the Lady Mulerider softball team secured the sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville in non-conference action with a 3-1 decision in game one and an extra-inning walk-off win in the second game that resulted in a 1-0 final score in the eighth inning.
TEAM RECORDS
(#7) Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders (21-3)
Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (14-11)
PITCHING DECISIONS – GAME 1
W –
Victoria Taylor (8-0)
L – Breanna Smith (9-6)
S – None
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS
- Brooke Goad put the Lady Muleriders on the board in the first inning as she launched her 14th dinger of the season out to right-center field to put SAU ahead 1-0.
- The Javelinas quickly answered in the second frame and tied the game at 1-all after Haley Boyett plated the tying run with an RBI base-knock to center field with two outs.
- The game remained scoreless through the next three innings of action as both the starting pitchers combined for six strikeouts to keep the score knotted at one.
- A lead-off double down the right field line off the bat of Goad followed by a single to left field from Monica Islava prompted a change of momentum in the game as the Lady Muleriders threatened the Javelina defense with runners at first and third base in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- The Javelinas retired the next two outs in the frame to keep SAU stranded at first and third base before sophomore Faith Otts eventually stepped to the plate with a clutch 2-out hit into the right-center field gap that plated both Goad and Islava and gave SAU the lead, 3-1, in the sixth inning.
- Starting pitcher Victoria Taylor finished off the remaining three hitters in the Javelina lineup with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out in the top of the seventh to nail down the victory for SAU, 3-1.
IN THE CIRCLE
- Victoria Taylor pitched a complete game for SAU allowing just one run on five hits through seven innings of work to clinch her eighth win in the circle this season.
- Although Breanna Smith received the loss in the circle for TAMUK, she recorded nine strikeouts through six innings pitched.
AT THE PLATE
- Otts led SAU with a pair of RBIs in the game followed by Goad's lone RBI via homerun.
- Goad was the only Lady Mulerider to record extra hits in the contest as she finished 2-for-3 at the dish with a pair of runs score.
PITCHING DECISIONS – GAME 2
W –
Brooke Ford-Nelson (6-2)
L – Sarah Gilbert (5-4)
S – None
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS
- Another pitcher's duel in game two, this time, kept the contest scoreless through seven innings and forced an extra inning of action.
- Both starting pitchers in game two were effective as they each kept their opposing offenses off-balance in the game combining for nine strikeouts.
- Brooke Ford-Nelson recorded a career-high six strikeouts in her eight-innings pitched for SAU and allowed just four hits without giving up any runs.
- A pair of singles by the Javelinas to lead off the top of the seventh inning posted a threat late in the game, but solid defense in the field allowed SAU to get out of the inning without any damage done and forced the game into extras.
- The Lady Muleriders got it done in the bottom of the eighth inning as Rachel Miller and Goad both drew walks to lead-off the frame and put the winning run into scoring position.
- Islava delivered with a single through the left side of the field to juice the bases for senior Jill Roye who would then put the game away in her at-bat after she stroked a liner into right field to plate the winning run and give the Lady Muleriders the walk-off victory in the bottom of the eighth, 1-0.
IN THE CIRCLE
- Ford-Nelson collected her sixth win of the season in the circle for SAU after a dominant performance that saw her mark a new career-high record of six strikeouts through eight innings of work.
- Ford-Nelson allowed just four hits and did not give up any runs or walks in the contest.
AT THE PLATE
- Goad led SAU with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with a double and a walk
- Roye was responsible for SAU's lone RBI in the contest and finished the contest 2-for-4 at the dish
- Islava rounded out the Lady Muleriders who had two hits as she went 2-for-4 in the game
- Miller and Otts each recorded a hit in the contest, and Miller added a walk
