Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Clearwater, Fla. – The SAU Softball team, taking part in the first day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, fell to two ranked teams on Friday. The Muleriders lost to 22^nd-ranked Valdosta State before losing game two to 18^th-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic 6-3.

Over two games, the Muleriders committed two errors and allowed nine runs on 18 hits, a stark contrast from an opening weekend in which the Muleriders only allowed three hits.

The Muleriders were shutout in game one against the Blazers. A solo home run in the second and a two-run single proved the difference as Victoria Taylor walked three batters but still recorded eleven strikeouts in a complete-game loss. The Mulerider offense was only able to tally four hits for the game and only got three runners into scoring position for the duration of the game. Third baseman Faith Otts recorded two of the Muleriders four hits, as Rachel Miller, Sarah Evans and Laina Suesue were the only other Muleriders to reach base on the day.

As a team, the Muleriders struck out 13 times, with five different players striking out more than once. Otts was the only Mulerider in the lineup not to strike out at least once.

In game two, the Muleriders fell behind in the second inning as the Sailfish plated two runs because of a Christina Hill error with two outs. The Muleriders pulled one back next inning as Miller scored on a Sailfish throwing error. The Sailfish then scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth; and after a Sarah Evans two-run RBI-single in the top of the sixth closed the gap to 5-3, the Sailfish scored another run on a Shelby Fleming error to put the game out of reach.

The Muleriders are now 3-2 on the season. They return to action tomorrow with a pair of games against West Georgia and Tampa.