SALEM, Va. – Seventh-seeded Southern Arkansas opened play on Thursday afternoon in the 2018 NCAA Division II Softball World Series at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex and despite solid pitching, the Lady Muleriders fell to second-seeded Saint Anselm 2-1 in nine innings.
 
SAU returns to action tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. EST in the DII World Series' second elimination game and will take on the loser of the (3) Chico State and (6) Saint Leo matchup. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
 
Sophomore Victoria Taylor tossed 7.0 innings of two-hit softball and surrendered just one run; a solo home run in the sixth inning that ended the right-hander's no-hit bid, while also tying the game at a run apiece.
 
Junior Brooke Ford-Nelson relieved Taylor to start the eighth inning and allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings. With one out in the ninth, the lone hit given up by Ford-Nelson coupled with a walk put runners at first and second. A fielder's choice kept runners at first and second as the lead runner was cut down at third base, before a ball hit on the infield was mishandled to allow the winning run to score.
 
The Lady Muleriders collected six singles in the loss with seniors Megan Godoyo and Jill Roye each producing two hits. Senior Monica Islava drove in the lone SAU run on a one-out single into left field in the fourth inning that scored sophomore Faith Otts and broke the scoreless tie.