Magnolia, Ark. – The SAU Softball team opened their home schedule with two games that could not have been more different. Game one featured the Muleriders' high-powered offense at work while game two saw Elisa Favela put together a dominating performance in the circle.

The first game of the doubleheader saw the Muleriders put up five runs in the bottom of the first inning due, in large part, to their first five hitters in the inning reach base.

Rachel Miller led the inning off with a bunt single, advancing to second on a passed ball. Faith Otts walked, and Sarah Evans singled to load the bases. Chelsea Fagan hit her ninth home run of the season to clear the bases and push across four Mulerider runs. Sarah Pitre walked and, after Savannah Martinez fouled out and Laina Suesue popped up, scored on a Favela double.

The Muleriders matched their run total from the first inning, with five of the first six batters in the inning drawing walks. With the bases loaded from walks, Suesue singled in a pair of runs, and the next batter, Favela, singled in another run to make it 10-0 Muleriders in the second inning.

Otts and Evans led off the third inning with a single and walk, respectively, and scored on another Fagan home run, her second of the game and tenth on the season. Pitre and Suesue walked, and Martinez reached by being hit by a pitch to load the bases as Favela pushed across the final Muleriders' run of the game as Pitre scored on a throwing error by the right fielder.
Sydney Wader started this one for the Muleriders, throwing the full five innings as she allowed four hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out three as she improves to 7-1 on the season.

Game two could not have been more different for the Muleriders, as they only pushed across three runs; however, a no-hitter from Favela saw the Muleriders take game two 3-0.

The Muleriders scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning, with Martinez singling to right field and, with two outs, Favela, Hallie Saintignan and Miller all hit RBI doubles in succession to put the game out of reach for the Rangers.

Favela made her first start inside the circle this season and improved to 3-0 on the season in three appearances as she threw the third no-hitter by the Mulerider pitching staff this season.

All three of the Mulerider pitchers that have made one start in the circle this season (Victoria Taylor, Wader and Favela) have thrown a no-hitter.

Favela whiffed ten Ranger hitters in her seven innings of work as she went only three over the minimum batters faced.

The Muleriders return to action tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. as they take on the Rangers in another conference doubleheader.