Arkadelphia, Ark. – The SAU Softball team closed the book on their non-conference schedule with two wins against in-region opposition on the final day of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, and winning three of four on the weekend. With the win, the Muleriders improve to 9-3 overall on the season.

In game one, the Muleriders defeated Emporia State 6-0, with junior pitcher Victoria Taylor throwing a complete game shutout, only allowing two hits and striking out a career-high 14 batters, including striking out the first seven batters she faced.

The Muleriders got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, with a two-out rally that started with a Faith Otts walk. Elisa Favlea then singled, and Chelsea Fagan reached on an error that also scored Otts. Sarah Pitre then doubled down the left field line, scoring Favela and Fagan, before a Christina Hill single scored Pitre.

The Muleriders added two more runs in the fifth inning, with solo home runs from Fagan and Sarah Evans.

The Muleriders turned around to face Northeastern State in game two, this time with Sydney Wader throwing a complete-game shutout, only allowing four hits while striking out seven.

The Muleriders opened the scoring in the second inning, with back-to-back singles from Fagan and Pitre, followed by a sacrifice from Hill to move the runners. Laina Suesue grounded out to score Fagan, and Evans singled in Pitre.

The Muleriders added another run in the fifth inning with a Rachel Miller solo home run, her second one of the weekend.

The next inning, Fagan led the inning off with another solo home run, and Evans hit a two-run home run later in the inning that also scored Pitre.

Miller led the seventh inning with a single, and moved to second on an Otts bunt. Savannah Martinez pinch-hit for Favela, drew a walk, and replaced on the bases by Maeson Grace. Fagan singled to load the bases, and Pitre hit a single to move everyone up a base and score a run. Hill subsequently followed with a double that scored Grace and Fagan.

Wader then finished off the bottom of the seventh by striking out three pinch hitters.

The Muleriders open conference play this weekend in Searcy as they take on Harding in a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.